Date of Event: 6/6/2018
Canyon involved: Moonflower
Region: Moab, Utah
Country: USA
Submitted by: Danielle Monroy
Source: Grand County EMS Facebook page
Injuries: Serious (specifics unknown)
Cause: Rappel error, no belay
Description of Event: According to Grand County EMS: “Yesterday at 2045 GCEMS & GCSAR were paged to a rappelling accident down Moonflower Canyon. The patient had an estimated 40 foot fall and sustained serious injuries. GCEMS crews were first on scene after a difficult hike and stabilized the patient. The patient was in a challenging location in the canyon that required a technical rescue from GCSAR. Montrose Memorial Hospital Careflight was dispatched and flown to a staging area below the technical rescue. The flight crew hiked up to the patient and joined GCEMS & GCSAR.”
Analysis: Lacking any firsthand accounts of the accident, it is not possible to know exactly what happened. However Grand County EMS reported the cause of the incident had several factors: single rope rappel on skinny rope, long rappel, no back up on the patient’s ATC, and fatigue. This suggests an uncontrolled rappel, likely by an inexperienced canyoneer.
-To rappel safely, and especially on long rappels, a person needs to be able to adjust friction on the fly. It can be difficult to do this with a tube device such as an ATC. Skinny ropes can be very slippery and adjusting friction becomes even more important.
-Individuals become fatigued. Each person must monitor their own energy level and/or physical and mental status, and communicate about it with the group before problems arise. Keeping an eye on the other group members is also important.
-Use a fireman’s belay whenever possible to back-up rappels.