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WoodySt
Trad climber
Riverside
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 22, 2008 - 04:08pm PT
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I just got word of a fall off Toe Jam. Climber on ground with head injury. I'll post any further info if it comes in.
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Spencer Adkisson
Trad climber
Reno, NV
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Jan 22, 2008 - 05:03pm PT
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Ooooh, not good. Hope they're alright.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Jan 22, 2008 - 05:59pm PT
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Toe Jam has taken a toll over the years. Our prayers to the injured climber.
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TYeary
Mountain climber
Calif.
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Jan 22, 2008 - 09:13pm PT
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bump Any word? I hope for the best.
Tony
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
St. Looney
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Jan 22, 2008 - 10:19pm PT
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Bump. Best wishes to those involved.
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WoodySt
Trad climber
Riverside
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 23, 2008 - 02:52am PT
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As of midnight, no more information.
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survival
Big Wall climber
arlington, va
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Jan 23, 2008 - 07:07am PT
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Bump.
Any word this AM?
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Jan 23, 2008 - 08:16am PT
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I'll make a couple of calls and find out what happened. I didn't hear any sirens yesterday. I hope all is well.
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coldrainsnow
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Jan 23, 2008 - 11:30am PT
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Hi all,
Much thanks for the prayers, concerns, and best wishes. I am currently recovering in the Hi-Desert motel in JT and am considering myself a very lucky person.
I had two pieces in on Toe Jam and was about to place a third when the next thing I knew I was flying through the air. I don't remember slipping or falling, but I obviously did somehow. I had enough time to think "OK, the rope will catch me soon" and then I hit the deck... actually I think I hit the slabs/boulders beneath the climb and slid down to the ground. My second piece popped, which might have slowed me down a bit, but I never did fully weight the rope.
I didn't lose consciousness but definitely hit my head somewhere - thank god I was wearing a helmet. Many thanks to all the HVers that ran up there immediately when they heard my wife screaming. The NPS EMTs were there very quickly and were very kind helping to stabilize me, give me O2, etc. I got some staples in my shin and back of the head at the hospital, and feel like I fell 20 ft onto rock this morning, but other than that I was very lucky. Lucky that the rope wasn't behind my leg, lucky that I slid on some low angle stuff before hitting the deck, lucky that help got there as quickly as they did (it would have been a lot worse in the middle of the Wonderland!). My wife and I had dinner at Crossroads last night and just kept being amazed that I was able to sit up and eat.
What can I say now? I'm definitely grounded for a while, if not a long time. Be careful out there - you obviously never know when something like this will happen, even on the "easy" stuff. WEAR A HELMET! It probably saved my life.
Again, thanks for the concern and help from all involved - it is wonderful to have a community that is genuinely worried and cares. It wasn't the best way to end our Jtree stay, but at least I can still walk, think, and type.
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE AND WEAR A HELMET!!!!!
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Jan 23, 2008 - 11:36am PT
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This is good to hear. Where did you blow? The "traverse" or near the upper section?
Again, glad you are ok!
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coldrainsnow
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Jan 23, 2008 - 11:38am PT
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On the traverse somewhere... again, the details in my head are sketchy.
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TradIsGood
Chalkless climber
the Gunks end of the country
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Jan 23, 2008 - 11:46am PT
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Good (relatively) news.
Sounds like you suffered a mild concussion. Stay away from any activities that could result in reinjury for a few weeks! Concussions are serious injuries, even though you seem fine. If you have a headache today, reconsult the doctors.
The first day I was at Joshua Tree a few years back we were kind of trying to figure out what we could lead on this really different (not Gunks) rock. Some kind gentlemen volunteered to lead up Toe Jam for us after we bailed on Open Book (?).
On the way over, he must have thought I was new. He asked if I had ever lead belayed before. Then on lead he put in one piece just off the deck. After that he went up about 50 feet, at which point I asked if he wanted to put in another piece (since it really didn't matter that I was belaying at that point). He put his second piece in I guess just short of the crux just below the top of the climb! And a third just above (?).
Sorry yours did not go as well.
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paganmonkeyboy
climber
mars...it's near nevada...
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Jan 23, 2008 - 11:49am PT
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coldrainsnow - Good to hear you are relatively ok !! Be well, heal fast...
-tom
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TYeary
Mountain climber
Calif.
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Jan 23, 2008 - 11:54am PT
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Good to hear you are in, basically, one piece. Nice to hear you were wearing a brain bucket. Not enough of us do, including me.
I hope you heal well and quickly and are back at it soon enough.
Tony
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Jan 23, 2008 - 11:58am PT
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Good to hear this one ended up relatively well. Heal up!
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TradIsGood
Chalkless climber
the Gunks end of the country
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Jan 23, 2008 - 12:16pm PT
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The helmet worked!
You are going to buy a new one, I hope.
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survival
Big Wall climber
arlington, va
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Jan 23, 2008 - 12:24pm PT
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Wow, glad you're ok. Hope you heal up quickly.
I'm glad the response was so fast.
Bruce
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Jan 23, 2008 - 12:36pm PT
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Is Toe Jam that easy crack to the Left of Bearded Cabbage?
Juan
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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Jan 23, 2008 - 12:47pm PT
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When I clicked on this thread and saw Toe Jam, I thought someone had taken the
Swing of Doom - a victim of the Omnipresent Toe Jam Death Belay™...
We saw this type of belay at least once a day, and we all would yell "death belay"!!
Glad to hear you're OK. Thanks for the update. Are you related to James by any chance?
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eeh
climber
East Side
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Jan 23, 2008 - 12:48pm PT
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Any chance you could let us know what kind of helmet you were wearing? I have been told many times that rock helmets only help with rocks falling down on your head from above and are not beneficial for side impact during falls, etc. I have also been told that if I want to wear a helmet on lead that I would be better off wearing a bike helmet rather than a rock helmet.
Glad you are ok.
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