Date of Event: 3/12/2025
Canyon Involved: 150 mile
Region: Grand Canyon
Country: USA
Submitted by: Boys Teepee
Source: First hand report from James Elsen
Injury: Concussion or Head Trauma
Cause: Anchor error, Rigging error, Fall or slip, Group dynamics
Description of Event: We woke up on the morning of the 11th and began our descent into 150 mile canyon from the rim at 2pm. With 6 members of the group in tow we made good progress until darkness set in. After completing 6 hair raising rappels we arrived at Moto Camp at the start of the second to last bypass. After a night of good rest we set up the next rappel while making breakfast. After 2 people descended It was my turn to go down but on the way, I noticed a neat cave. After going into the cave my friend said “damn neat cave” and ascended. After making it into the neat cave and detaching our ropes it was time to make an anchor. After kicking the loose chalk stone and proclaiming, “that ain’t going nowhere” he set his webbing around a the stone, then our soon to be victim found out the hard way. With no helmets in sight, I noticed the anchor begin to slip into the crack between the chalk stone and the canyon wall. Witnessing the webbing slip I yelled out to which he replied “it’s supposed to slip.” Next thing I knew his cowboy hat was in the air and a thud echoed throughout the canyon. 12 foot fall. Hearing him say “what happened” and noticing the blood dripping off his head, we were on high alert, after confirming to hit the sos button, we hit the sos button on our in reach. We then descended one more rappel, bypassed another, and got a helicopter on a ledge above upset beach.
Analysis: Poor anchor construction and unnecessary risk, lack of head protection.