On November 15, 2014, a group of three was rappelling through Pine Creek Canyon. A member of the party jumped off an obstacle, falling about five feet into a pool of water. When he jumped, the man believed that the pool was deep enough to cushion his fall, but he landed on a hidden ledge. The 36-year-old man suffered a significant lower leg injury. The patient was less than 1/2 mile from a road, but a technical rope rescue was necessary to extract him from the canyon. It required six hours and 14 rescuers.
Lower leg fractures are the most common injuries people suffer in the wilderness. The most common cause of lower leg injuries is jumping. Do not jump. Bring a rope and use it.
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November 15, 2014
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Last updated: January 29, 2015