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majid_sabet
Nov 5, 2008, 5:31 AM
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Edited for title correction and update.
For full report click this link
http://web.me.com/...ers_die_in_fall.html
MS
Two rock climbers found dead Tuesday evening in the Red River Gorge area fell about 50 to 60 feet after frayed, discolored webbing "blew out," officials said Wednesday.
Benjamin E. Strohmeier of Hebron and Laura Fletcher of Brownsburg, Ind., both 18, were found off Ky. 11 at Emerald City, a climbing area near Natural Bridge State Park in western Wolfe County.Crews returned to the area Wednesday morning, inspecting equipment they hadn't seen on the rock the day before, said John May, a member of Wolfe County Search and Rescue.
There was webbing, a type of strap climbers use, on an anchor bolt, and the webbing "essentially tore in half, and as a result the climbers fell," May said.The climbers probably died from the impact, he said.
"That's the best information that we have, and that's what it looks like happened," May said. "Unless you were there and actually witnessed it, you can't say 100 percent."Both teenagers were experienced climbers. May said crews initially thought their deaths resulted from something more than a climbing mistake.
Two climbers inspecting the area Wednesday rapelled down the climb Strohmeier and Fletcher were on and found a piece of frayed webbing about halfway down, May said.
May said the webbing probably was left on the rock by other climbers and used by Strohmeier and Fletcher. Their other equipment was in good condition. It's not uncommon for climbers to leave gear behind because of the difficulty of the climb.
Investigators say Fletcher was discovered at the bottom of the cliff, and Strohmeier had gone over another ledge and was suspended by his rope.Both climbers were in their harnesses.State police are investigating, but have said foul play is not suspected.
Added;11/07/08
Shannon Stuart-Smith, founder of the Red River Gorge Climber’s Coalition, told the Lexington Herald-Reader that the webbing could be 10 to 15 years old.
http://www.wkyt.com/...dlines/33871489.html
(This post was edited by majid_sabet on Feb 19, 2010, 7:46 PM)
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curt
Nov 5, 2008, 5:51 AM
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Not much info there.
Curt
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camhead
Nov 5, 2008, 5:57 AM
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apparently it was climbers. there is a bit of talk about it on redriverclimbing.com, but they are keeping it low key until families have been notified.
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chossmonkey
Nov 5, 2008, 12:27 PM
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Did it happen at the Muir? It said Wolfe County and Liz posted about it.
No matter what that sucks. My thoughts are with their families.
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shrug7
Nov 5, 2008, 12:53 PM
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Could just be Liz being the sweet lady she is.
I dropped some lines to some folks I know down there.
Couple more news stories:
http://news.google.com/...8&ncl=1267047503
(This post was edited by shrug7 on Nov 5, 2008, 2:30 PM)
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lena_chita
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Nov 5, 2008, 4:59 PM
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It was at Torrent Falls, I believe.
My thoughts are with Ben's and Lauren's families.
I have a hard time processing this right now.
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wes_allen
Nov 5, 2008, 5:37 PM
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Not at torrent, at Global Village. Sadness for sure.
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rtwilli4
Nov 5, 2008, 5:49 PM
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That's horrible. So they were not at Torrent Falls? I was under the impression that Torrent Falls was not open to the public on Mondays... or Tuesdays for that matter.
Prayers.
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moose_droppings
Nov 5, 2008, 6:14 PM
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My condolences to both families and their friends.
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majid_sabet
Nov 5, 2008, 6:34 PM
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Wolfe County Coroner Frank Porter told the Lexington Herald-Leader that it isn't clear what happened to the pair. He says the rope they were using didn't break.
http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/581292.html
(This post was edited by majid_sabet on Nov 5, 2008, 6:36 PM)
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camhead
Nov 5, 2008, 6:38 PM
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I've heard that some people are going out to the crag this afternoon to see what happened; so far I've just heard that it may have been a simul-rapping accident.
Very tragic, I climbed and hung out with Ben a little, didn't know Laura. Condolences to their families and friends.
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Gmburns2000
Nov 5, 2008, 6:39 PM
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wow, can't wait to hear how this happened. surprised the coroner didn't mention anything about trauma from a fall.
this death seems sadder to me than the others. maybe they were just too young? hmmm...
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majid_sabet
Nov 5, 2008, 6:40 PM
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camhead wrote: I've heard that some people are going out to the crag this afternoon to see what happened; so far I've just heard that it may have been a simul-rapping accident. Very tragic, I climbed and hung out with Ben a little, didn't know Laura. Condolences to their families and friends.
Simul rap or simul climb?
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camhead
Nov 5, 2008, 6:47 PM
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majid_sabet wrote: camhead wrote: I've heard that some people are going out to the crag this afternoon to see what happened; so far I've just heard that it may have been a simul-rapping accident. Very tragic, I climbed and hung out with Ben a little, didn't know Laura. Condolences to their families and friends. Simul rap or simul climb?
Just what I typed the first time, although even that is just hearsay.
Like I said, detailed reports are coming. Be patient.
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Gmburns2000
Nov 5, 2008, 8:37 PM
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clausti wrote: Gmburns2000 wrote: wow, can't wait to hear how this happened. surprised the coroner didn't mention anything about trauma from a fall. i could wait. i think a lot of people could have waited. 
OK, OK, I suppose that I can wait. But still, I'm really curious.
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tutugirl
Nov 5, 2008, 9:17 PM
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My heart goes out to both families...I used see Ben at RQ quite often since his mom and I climbed there often together. Here is a bit more information, it is normal to want to know what happened since we want to make sure we don't make the same mistake.
http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/581807.html
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Gmburns2000
Nov 5, 2008, 9:24 PM
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tutugirl wrote: My heart goes out to both families...I used see Ben at RQ quite often since his mom and I climbed there often together. Here is a bit more information, it is normal to want to know what happened since we want to make sure we don't make the same mistake. http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/581807.html
scary. my heart goes out to the friends and family.
(This post was edited by Gmburns2000 on Nov 5, 2008, 9:26 PM)
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olive
Nov 5, 2008, 9:50 PM
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This is extremely sad to read 
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reg
Nov 5, 2008, 9:53 PM
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so tell me this tat was not a mid point station that broke under the weight of two simurapping!! tell me it was something other then a single god dammed sling!!!!!
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wes_allen
Nov 5, 2008, 9:53 PM
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I would consider this info to be very preliminary, as the local paper is not all the great at getting things right. All that is known, for sure, is that they were found near whiteout/friable, and that he was belaying and she tied in. It seems that an anchor failed, but, again, no one knows for sure yet.
There are always lot of questions, but in the end, maybe the exact answers are not so important, all that really matters is something went wrong, and the consequences are severe. And that, to me, is the lessen to take away from any accident.
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jman
Nov 5, 2008, 9:57 PM
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This is so very sad to hear.
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jman
Nov 5, 2008, 10:01 PM
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wes_allen wrote: I would consider this info to be very preliminary, as the local paper is not all the great at getting things right. All that is known, for sure, is that they were found near whiteout/friable, and that he was belaying and she tied in. It seems that an anchor failed, but, again, no one knows for sure yet.
Out of curiousity are these two pitch climbs?
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wes_allen
Nov 5, 2008, 10:16 PM
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jman wrote: wes_allen wrote: I would consider this info to be very preliminary, as the local paper is not all the great at getting things right. All that is known, for sure, is that they were found near whiteout/friable, and that he was belaying and she tied in. It seems that an anchor failed, but, again, no one knows for sure yet. Out of curiousity are these two pitch climbs?
They are usually done in two, though not always. And there are a couple other routes near there as well. I guess what I was trying to get across, is that no one know for sure what happened, and any talk of the details might be a bit premature, esp. to the friends and family. I know the powers that be usually have two threads for something like this - one for details, and one for remembering the people, so maybe someone can make some decisions as to what this thread will be.
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