Original Post

Jan Tarculas · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 836 Mar 24, 2014 · Riverside, Ca I was climbing on Nolstagia when I started hearing multiple ambulance, fire trucks and over first responder vehicles coming to the quarry. Everyone around my area first assumed it was base jumpers near School House, but later finding out it was a climber injury on the new route Uncle Ho.



Don't qoute me on this because this is coming from asking other climbers on what happened and my assumptions after inspecting the route and the area of accident. When I was leaving the quarry a few climbers near them in Whammy area said they heard loud screaming from a climber that was getting lowered down really really fast. Faster than a normal rap or how you would normally lower someone. This climber was also sideways while being lowered. The climbers/bystanders told me they believe the climber fell from the very top of the face climb on Uncle Ho before getting to the slab. They said the climber was probably dropped (belayer error), I believe they said belayer was using an ATC and the climber fell to the ledge a few bolts down. Another climber stated he physically saw an compound fracture of one leg (bones sticking out of his skin) with the foot/ankle completely at a 90 degree angle. He said he believes the other ankle/leg was fracture/broken too.



When I went near the area the accident after everyone had cleared out, I saw quickdraws on Uncle Ho where the accidently happened. The last quickdraw I saw was about 9 bolts up (2nd to the last bolt before the slab). I'm assuming this had to be a bad belay accident. The bolt is pretty far from the last ledge with anyfall from that bolt onto the next should result in a pretty clean fall. That part of the wall is very exposed. The bystanders/climbers also stated when they heard the climber being lowered down he was shouting and cursing very loud towards the belayer like it was his fault.



Again, take what I just said with a grain of salt. This is just what I heard from the other climbers near by and not from the actual group of climbers that were involved in the injury (group consisted of about 5 guys). I was actually climbing near them earlier in the morning and pointed out the new 5.9 to the right of Uncle Ho for them to climb.



riverside quarry accident



riverside quarry accident

Derek Kistner · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 5 Mar 24, 2014 · Los Angeles, California RIVERSIDE ROCK QUARRY - FALL & EMERGENCY AIR LIFT.

-Not to be the bearer of bad news here... but, if any of my compatriots know of the crew of 4 guys who had the accident at riverside today. I have their draws that where left behind after the accident.

3/23/2014

A group of 4 guys (experience unknown) was climbing right of tangerine dream on a route that is not in the new climbing guide. Supposedly a 10A or so. One of the guys was close to the top and his partner failed to catch him resulting in what I heard to be a fractured ankle along with the other broken.

My partner and I where the guys next to them when it happened.

Once airlifted and out - my buddy and I climbed their route to ultimately collect their gear for them.

If anyone knows these guys from today or hears of this- can you connect them to me (i.e. us) so I can get them their gear. -Its a hefty group of quick draws to be left without.

Please email me here or connect them to me here.

-From what I heard from some people around us they said the guys where from Riverside and possibly climb at the Hangar 18 out near the quarry. -Hopefully we can get them their gear back.

Thanks... and keep a mindful watch my belay friends.



Side Note: I am the guy you - 'RN Climber' - ran into at the top of the path climbing tangerine dream with my partner.



If you know the guys or anyone related to them or the accident I have their draws from the climb.

Adam A · Joined Apr 2017 · Points: 0 Apr 12, 2017 · Riverside, CA Hi all, So, I'm the climber who fell on Uncle Ho. I just stumbled onto this post. Better late than never, I guess lol. I was going for the on-sight and was about four or five bolts above the slab when I reached up and the hold just wasn't there and took a fall -- and just kept falling. I ended up hitting the slab, shattering both legs. I fell past the ledge a few more feet until my belayer caught me. I think I called him every name in the book when he was lowering me. I never really got a straight answer from him as to what happened, but my best guess is that he wasn't paying attention and probably didn't have his brake hand on the rope. At one point he said that he thought I was climbing lol. He was using an ATC. I actually asked him if he wanted to use my GriGri, but he said that he was more comfortable using the ATC on lead. I had been climbing with him for about a year and a half and he belayed me on lead literally hundreds of times. Never once when I climbed with him before I fell did he do anything that would make me not trust him. Injury-wise, I shattered both legs. I shattered by tib and fib in my left leg. It definitely was at a 90 degree angle. I also shattered the round bone on the inside of my right ankle. I didn't have any compound fractures, but I guess the bone in my right ankle came close. Had to have a couple surgeries on my left leg and one on my right and have plenty of hardware in both legs. Took awhile to heal; I was in bed for a good six weeks and was on crutches for nearly seven months. I finally started climbing again in January and lead again at The Quarry. Safe to say I'll only climb with a GriGri and people I really trust. Thanks everyone for the concern and the cool pictures of my helicopter ride! -Adam







Forever Outside · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 255 Apr 12, 2017 · Los Angeles, CA Adam A wrote: haha Nah. Whoever grabbed them can have them. Derek Kistner has them, didn't you read the whole thread? He was/is looking for you to return them!!

Jan Tarculas · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 836 Apr 12, 2017 · Riverside, Ca Wow I didn't expect this to be brought back to life, but glad you ran into the thread and gave us an update. I totally forgot this accident happened and after recalling the moments of that day, I totally had the jitters and couldn't continue climbing after your fall myself. Glad you're OK and back to climbing. Maybe I'll run into you there someday

wizard Lee · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 46 Apr 15, 2017 · Costa Mesa, CA Glad to hear you are back climbing. GriGri's can be just as dangerous if not used properly. That said I prefer my belayer use one.

dino74 · Joined Sep 2016 · Points: 60 Apr 17, 2017 · Oceanside, CA Good to hear you're getting back into climbing. I was wondering what size rope were you using?