Shitty Day on Prodigal Sun

Shitty Day on Prodigal Sun

Page Type Page Type: Trip Report
Date Date Climbed/Hiked: Jul 31, 2009
Activities Activities: Big Wall
Seasons Season: Summer

Firstly...

Prodigal SunP4

I am not trying to minimize the tragedy of that day by my choice of title. The day was indeed a shitty one for us but that of course pales in comparison to the tragedy experienced by a family on that very same day. Our deepest condolences go out to them.

Many thanks to Trevor Long for the beautiful photos he emailed me & allowed me to post up.

Saturday

Prodigal SunP1
Prodigal SunP4
Prodigal SunP3
Prodigal SunTrevor Long photo
Prodigal SunBivy

Our late arrival in Vegas on Friday night was followed by a long wait at the rental car counter and finally a 3am bedtime in Motel 6 in St. George. We woke up equally late, ate breakfast and slowly made our way to the zoo that is the visitors’ center of Zion NP. Whole f..ing lot was full and so after unloading our pig & gear, I drove back to Springdale to park. Finally by 1:30pm we got off the shuttle bus, crossed the river and shortly found ourselves hiking along the base of the northeast face of Angels Landing. I started up the first pitch ladder at 2 pm – we figured no problem: short route that is (reportedly) mostly C1. I linked pitches 1 and 2 and dispatched the fun (C2-ish) pitch 3 (crux being a topstep onto an aider hanging from a talon hook to place a high yellow Alien…good gear below, no issues). Somewhere mid-pitch, the stitching on one of my aiders’ steps gave out and I almost took a fall. Too much aid this season? Our elementary school-level big wall regimen this year is to be blamed. We did one more pitch but as I was setting up to haul atop P4, Shirley suggested that perhaps we should fix P4 and bivy on the narrow ledge atop P3…given that it was 6pm and there was a decent if narrow ledge there, we set up camp for the night. With 4 or 5 more pitches for Sunday, we figured we had plenty of time to finish before our Monday morning flight home. We set up the ledge and enjoyed a decent dinner while entertained by “people watching” the tourists getting on and off the shuttle bus.

A somewhat uncomfortable night followed. First, my insomnia (I’m too long for the portalege) and the accompanying tossing and turning eventually tipped the ledge – we both had to wake up in the middle of the night to straighten things out. Then, as predawn hours approached, the temps dipped and we were actually both shivering in our (very) light bags…Zion in August, go figure.

Sunday

Prodigal SunProdigal Sun
Prodigal SunBivy Views
Prodigal SunP3
Prodigal SunBivy
Prodigal SunTrevor Long photo
Prodigal SunBivy (Trevor Long photo)

When the sun came out, things finally became comfortable and we slept in late. By 8:20am, we were almost packed up. Shirley was at the left edge of the small ledge at the main DA anchors and I was closing up the pig hanging just below the ledge from the chains on the right side (kinda like in this shot from night before). We both heard a loud noise above and felt as though our hearts stopped. Time slowed down to a crawl…

Shirley later told me that I yelled “ROCK!” but I do not recall. Whatever the noise was, it instantly directed our gazes skywards. My eyes locked-on to an object clearing the rim 500-600 feet directly above me. HAULBAG! I thought to myself. I would later find out that Shirley was tracking a large rock that sailed left in her direction while not really noticing the larger “object” that had my undivided attention. She was trying to make herself small under the slight overhang/dihedral that marks the start of P4. Did I mention that time flowed like molasses? I felt frozen yet my memories of those seconds are crisp. I was hanging below the ledge with nowhere to go. All I could do was watch and so I did. A tiny fraction of a second later, my brain shifted gears to “BASE JUMPER!” I assume I made out limbs by that point. I followed the person with my gaze hoping I could shift my position at the last moment if needed. With a horrendous sound of rushing air, the person flew behind me and slightly to my right. Close. My eyes followed. I don’t know why. I wish I would have looked away. By the time they passed my position I knew that shit was not right. We were less than 300 feet above the ground. I have no clue about base jumping but it seemed improbable that things would turn out well. And then came the impact on the rock slab marking the top of the rock band at the base of the wall. The body ricocheted into the brush below the rock band. We saw a small object falling by us slowly. A small pack and jacket. We knew then it was not a base jumper. I saw small papers gently floating down as well. Without thinking I grabbed one as it floated past my face. It was a twenty dollar bill. I recall telling Shirley not to look down. But there was nothing to see. The brush below obstructed any evidence of the tragedy. I thought “suicide” – there was no scream, no struggle. Shirley did not see this and was asking whether I was sure it was a person. I was.

It was a rare moment – there was no shuttle bus below. In fact there was no one below. We were almost sure that it was a lone person who decided to kill themselves by taking an early shuttle & hiking to the top. We had to alert someone – there was no question about a rescue of course but still…how could you continue moving up IF you had a choice to come down easily? I jugged our fixed line on P4 and rapped down. I kept looking down to see if I had imagined it all. I couldn’t see anything…maybe I was wrong? Maybe I just imagined shit?!! I felt the bill in my shirt pocket. No – I saw what I saw. We had to get down. I was careless pulling the ropes on P4 & they got stuck. Time ticked by. Shuttle bus came and went with people ignoring our waving. We did not want to yell to give anyone the idea that it was us who were in distress. We thought we saw a hiker up on the rim and up-canyon looking in our direction. We tried to signal him. We had no idea if we were successful. Couple tourists at the bus stop waved back at us and then left. Silence. The ropes finally pulled and we started rapping down. As we were atop P2, a marked park ranger sedan arrived. We waved & tried to communicate with him. Couldn’t hear us but at least we knew that others knew something had happened. Two rangers were crossing the river as we rapped to the ground. I found the pack and some personal belongings hanging on a bush directly in line with our route. I put the twenty dollar bill in the pack. By this time one of the rangers arrived at the base of Prodigal Sun. He told us that it was reportedly a slip…a hiker, a woman had slipped on the trail above. She was hiking with her family. We packed our stuff. There was nothing else to do. Two St. George detectives met us on the hike out. A chopper arrived on scene above apparently to examine the cliff top. The recovery team was crossing the river as well. We left our statements and headed home.

Lastly...

Three Fingered Jack3FJ
Three Fingered Jack3FJ
Three Fingered Jack3FJ
Angels RestAngels Rest

About a week later we were elsewhere. That outing had been preplanned before. I was midway up pitch 1 when I heard a short scream from Shirley. Without thinking I yelled out “Duck Shirley!!!”, flattened myself against the rock and waited for the sound of rushing air and the horrible impact below. Nothing happened of course. I looked down only to see a startled black bear running away from Shirley (having apparently snuck up on her). Fu…ing idiot that I am. Prodigal was to be a dry run for something bigger. We felt like shit. I felt out of it. We got no further. We went home in defeat. It’s been three weeks. I don’t think about the accident all the time. It’s only in those moments before sleep comes that the memories resurface without fail. They push back sleep. Our free time is spent running and hiking. The most ambitious climb was the 5.easy route on Three Fingered Jack. Good time spent with the whole family.

Comments

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Viewing: 1-20 of 80
cp0915

cp0915 - Aug 24, 2009 5:52 pm - Voted 10/10

Wow, Radek

Haunting.

rpc

rpc - Aug 24, 2009 7:05 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Wow, Radek

It was (is). Thanks for visiting Courtney.

Augie Medina

Augie Medina - Aug 24, 2009 6:25 pm - Voted 10/10

Sounds like

You're not really past the emotional trauma of something like that. I figure that had to be shared. Your title is an understatement, but certainly not inappropriate. Hope you "heal" fast.

rpc

rpc - Aug 24, 2009 7:06 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Sounds like

Thanks MI - I feel horrible for the hiker's family.

Dow Williams

Dow Williams - Aug 24, 2009 7:52 pm - Voted 10/10

well written Radek

put the reader there...sry for the negative experience. Spend enough time exposed and I guess we are going to have those days. Unfortuate indeed.

rpc

rpc - Aug 24, 2009 8:36 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: well written Radek

Thanks Dow - I think you're right...still seems kinda weird...not like we climb in Zion a lot.

Deltaoperator17

Deltaoperator17 - Aug 24, 2009 10:24 pm - Voted 10/10

Oh Radek and Shirley

Man, that was an epic tragic event for sure. I am sorry for the family but I am very glad you two are fine... well you know what I mean by fine.

Glad you are safe, I guess if you are out there long enough you probably will witness something horific.

rpc

rpc - Aug 25, 2009 12:39 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Oh Radek and Shirley

Thanks Steve - tragedy for the family.

SJD

SJD - Aug 24, 2009 11:56 pm - Hasn't voted

Damn -

Seems sureal, thank goodness the two of you are alright.

rpc

rpc - Aug 25, 2009 12:40 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Damn -

Thanks SJD.

Marcsoltan

Marcsoltan - Aug 25, 2009 9:53 am - Voted 10/10

Oh man!!!!!!!

What a horrible experience!!!!!!! I am sorry you had to see that Radek and Shirley.
The woman could have easily hit you guys.
I have done that scramble up to Angles Landing couple of times, and I know this kind of this can happen.

Sorry guys.

rpc

rpc - Aug 25, 2009 12:41 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Oh man!!!!!!!

Thanks Marc - poor family.

Bill Kerr

Bill Kerr - Aug 25, 2009 2:20 pm - Voted 10/10

Trauma/grieving

The visual and audio replay sticks with you a long time. A buddy and I were unfortunate enough to closely watch a woman fall 2-300m down Sir Donald. She hit about 5 times before slamming into a ledge. We tried to climb the next day but our heads and hearts were not in it. It was months before the sights and sounds faded. We did not know her but we both had to go through the various stages of grieving before getting back to climbing.
Take care and don't push it.

rpc

rpc - Aug 25, 2009 6:53 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Trauma/grieving

Thanks Bill - appreciate the advice.

rpc

rpc - Aug 25, 2009 6:53 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: That's awful...

Thanks Mike.

rpc

rpc - Aug 31, 2009 1:00 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Good God

Thanks Taco.

BigRob

BigRob - Aug 30, 2009 9:07 am - Voted 10/10

Nice Prose for Some Bad Shit

Being an O.R. nurse, I probably see more people die than most. It is never easy and for whatever reason, some bother me worse than others. I've saved murderers and been unable to save innocent children. Nice report, despite the tragedy. Not trying to be cooky, but if you don't find "healing" on your own, get some help.

Always enjoy your photos.

rpc

rpc - Aug 31, 2009 1:00 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Nice Prose for Some Bad Shit

Thanks and thanks for good words.

jmc

jmc - Aug 30, 2009 9:12 am - Voted 10/10

When you climb

you mentally prepare for certain things. Like falling rock, or falling yourself, but some things are so unexpected so impossible they can't be rehearsed in you mind. There is no way to prepare. Thanks for sharing you experience, it must have been hard to put in down in words. I hope that each of us reading this can take a little of the burden, I know I have. So I hope that in sharing the experience, it lightens the load a little for both of you.

rpc

rpc - Aug 31, 2009 1:01 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: When you climb

Thank you jmc.

Viewing: 1-20 of 80