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wigglestick
Feb 6, 2002, 7:50 AM
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Registered: Jul 27, 2001
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I heard something about an experienced climber killed in Boulder Canyon last weekend. I was wondering if anybody had any information about it. The media always seems to distort the story. They said the climber fell 100 feet and was not wearing a helmet, which leads one to believe that the helmet could have prevented to death. Anybody know anything more?
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mikedano
Feb 6, 2002, 8:33 AM
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Registered: Dec 19, 2001
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I heard that too. According to www.climbingboulder.com, it was Mike Sofranko and he was climbing at the Happy Hour Crag. There's more info at rec.climbing (not sure how to link it.)
And here's what I guess is a news story about the accident:
"A bolt that was fixed in a rock may have been compromised, causing the
fatal fall of an experienced Fort Collins climber over the weekend.
Michael Sofranko, 28, died Sunday of head injuries after falling about
100 feet off Happy Hour Crag in Boulder Canyon.
The popular climbing area near Cob Rock, within view of Colo. 119 and
about a half-mile east of Boulder Falls, has many routes with fixed
gear. Sofranko, who was climbing with his girlfriend, was rappeling
down the face about 3:30 p.m. when the accident occurred, said Boulder
County Sheriff's Deputy Samuel Hard.
"She didn't even see it happen," he said.
She had rappelled down just before him and was busy packing up, Hard
said.
Members of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group were investigating whether
a bolt Sofranko may have been using failed.
"It sounds like he had been climbing for a while and was competent to
take care of himself, which makes it all the more baffling," said Jeff
Sparhawk, spokesman for the rescue team.
Members of Sparhawk's team are still piecing together what happened,
including inspecting bolts in the rock and talking to climbers who
were in the area.
"Something happened, and we're not sure what yet," Sparhawk said.
Sofranko, who was not wearing a helmet, did not die immediately, Hard
said. A medical professional flagged down on Colo. 119 reported he had
a pulse but that his heart then stopped and she began CPR. He was
pronounced dead about 15 minutes later."
My condolences,
mike.
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atg200
Feb 6, 2002, 2:04 PM
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Registered: Jul 27, 2001
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Mike was a very good climber - he and I had been talking about climbing Standing Rock in Canyonlands togther for the last few months, and now I am very sorry I never got the chance.
It sounds like a rappel anchor failed, but I would ask that people please not speculate about the cause of accidents like this while the wounds are fresh and the details are not known. It is not time for that yet.
My condolences to Mike's family, friends, and partners. He was a good guy.
andrew
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