Utah Canyoneering Accident

[nonot]

Please don't go canyoneering without someone who is experienced! The movie is bound to get people out there that are beginners.

Source 1:

WAYNE COUNTY -- Searchers recovered the body of a 70-year-old Colorado Springs man Saturday who fell 100 feet while rappelling in Wayne County.

According to Tal Ehlers with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, the man had been hiking with another man in No Man's Canyon near Hanksville Friday. Family members became concerned when they hadn't heard from the hikers, and search and rescue was called out around 4:30 p.m.

A Utah Highway Patrol helicopter assisted in the search, which was called off late Friday night and resumed Saturday morning. Searchers spotted the two men around 11 a.m. Saturday.

Ehlers says the other hiker -- a 57-year-old man from Tennessee -- was flown to a Moab hospital where he was treated for dehydration. The name of the victim will not be released until the family is notified.

Source 2:
Colorado man killed in rapelling accident; brother is rescued
BY SHEENA MCFARLAND
The Salt Lake Tribune

First published Mar 13 2011 12:57PM
Updated 8 hours ago
A Colorado Springs man died and his brother was stranded for days after a
rapelling accident at No Man's Canyon near Hanksville.

Louis Cicotello, 70, died from his injuries. His 57-year-old brother, David
Cicotello, of Tennessee, was stranded on a ledge for at least three days after
his brother fell. The two brothers had not contacted their family during their
weeklong trip, and a concerned family member called search-and-rescue Friday.
Crews of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and the Wayne County Search and
Rescue team set out at 4:30 p.m. Friday, assisted by a helicopter from the Utah
Highway Patrol. They combed the area for the men, but stopped after dark. The
search resumed early Saturday. At 11 a.m., crews found the two men.

David Cicotello, who had no way to get down from the ledge, was taken via
helicopter to Moab Hospital for medical evaluation. He had run out of water but
was in "very good condition, considering the situation," said Tal Ehlers, of the
Wayne County Sheriff's Office.

"We so completely appreciated having a helicopter in the area because there is
zero radio communication in those slot canyons," Ehler said. "[David Cicotello]
didn't have a way to communicate, but even if he had, it wouldn't have worked.
Had his family not called, he himself would have perished."

[Tough_Boots]

I bet that was a long three days on that ledge. Terrible.

[big_load]

Very sad.

I'll leave the technical stuff to somebody else.

[azbackpackr]

Yes, another sad accident that didn't have to happen, eh?

I love technical. But it can be (and is) dangerous. And I am not good at it. That right there is very good knowledge to have--and what could save a lot of people's lives, whether climbing, hiking Grand Canyon, scuba diving, etc., etc. I know I am not good at it so that I must choose my partners carefully, and also spend a lot of time learning about it. Well, I am going climbing in Jack's Canyon in a couple of weeks, with an AMGA certified climbing instructor, who I have taken a class from already, so I think I will be ok.

Interesting that the Wayne County Sheriff's Office knew how to spell "rappelling," but the newspaper reporter didn't know how, and she didn't know how to use spell-check either!

[Alston_Neal]

Very sad indeed...
I'm of an age now where I love the feel of tierra firma under my feet. Not dangling in the air or most importantly, not under the surface.

[tealnrose]

just a suggestion.....no one cares how the words are spelled so why put such negative things in a post....i wouldnt have known if you hadnt said something and i dont care any how.. :bdh: kinda like beatin a dead horse omg left off the g lol

[te_wa]

The movie is bound to get people out there that are beginners.

movie? i dont get it.

[big_load]

The movie is bound to get people out there that are beginners.

movie? i dont get it.

Perhaps he's refering to "127 Hours".

[azbackpackr]

just a suggestion.....no one cares how the words are spelled so why put such negative things in a post....

Not negative, just a sarcastic dig at Utah media. Some of us are in the habit of making fun of Utah, but I have to admit, probably not appropriate in light of the poor guy's death, etc.

[nonot]

The movie is bound to get people out there that are beginners.

movie? i dont get it.

Perhaps he's refering to "127 Hours".

Yep, the accident rate is anticipated to increase since it came out. These are the first fatalities I've heard of since it went public. Not sure if the victims saw the movie though.

[PLC92084]

the accident rate is anticipated to increase since it came out

Considering we're talking about people, I hope this doesn't follow a trend similar to when Disney released 101 Dalmations...

[big_load]

I hope this doesn't follow a trend similar to when Disney released 101 Dalmations...

Yeah, Dalmation paws aren't well suited to rappelling. I figure all 101 of them are in a heap at the bottom.

[PLC92084]

Just for the record... I was trying to be sensitive and caring by pointing out the legitimate plight of Dalmations across the country that died, needlessly, because of idiots that shouldn't have gotten them in the first place (probably the same people that will now try canyoneering).

[azbackpackr]

Ouch. (Insert Utah joke of your choice here.)

[Nan]

Just for the record... I was trying to be sensitive and caring by pointing out the legitimate plight of Dalmations across the country that died, needlessly, because of idiots that shouldn't have gotten them in the first place (probably the same people that will now try canyoneering).

...like all the clown fish that got flushed down the toilet after Finding Nemo?

[nonot]

Well, it looks like the guys involved were pretty experienced and it was an unfortunate accident. Still a tough reminder to be extra careful when canyoneering. The other guy was lucky to survive on his meager supplies.

[RedRoxx44]

I wouldn't go near Blue John this season if you paid me. I do think lots of folks will try to get it in on their vacation and some canyoneers will do it just out of morbid curiosity. It's too bad because part of that canyon is non tech and hikable, it and nearby Moonshine, etc are very pretty narrow canyons in a fairly isolated area. The hiker trails will probably look like roads now. And full of people. Another area to avoid ( I've just about given up on the canyons off Hole in the Rock Re: The Escalante because of too many people--- yes they have the right I also have the right to decline mobs on my hikes).