Injured Climber Rescued From El Capitan

Park dispatch received an emergency call from a climber in a party on the Salathe Route on El Capitan around 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 10th.

The climber, who was approximately 1,000 feet up on the route, reported that he was down-climbing when he pulled a large rock from the wall that was approximately the size of a small refrigerator and that it fell from his location and struck another climber approximately 200 feet below him on the same route.

That climber, a 45-year-old Australian man, sustained injuries to his lower extremities and was unable to move. The lead climber from the other party who pulled the block loose sustained minor injuries to his ankle.

Rangers David Pope and Aaron Smith arrived on scene via fixed ropes on the route about two hours later. The injured climber, located on a feature known as the Heart Ledges, received medical attention, was packaged in a litter, and was lowered to Yosemite Valley with Pope as the litter attendant. Smith, along with Cheyne Lempe, Everett Phillips, and Bud Miller from Yosemite SAR, then assisted the victim’s climbing partner to Yosemite Valley via rappel.

Once on the ground, the injured climber was transported via ground ambulance to a local hospital for medical treatment. The victim’s partner sustained no injuries during the incident. The climber who pulled the rock loose was able to self-extricate.

Supervisory Valley Ranger Chris Bellino served as the incident commander for this rescue.

Bud Miller sounds like a two fisted drinker.

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AnotherDave
Bud Miller sounds like a two fisted drinker.

Maybe, but one with no taste.