There was a short item on southern cross news of a woman being stretchered out of hill wood, anybody know if she was badly hurt and what happened?

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8 Comments

  1. tristan heath

    Young Launceston climber, fell clipping anchors on sugar mountain. Slack got caught on her leg which slowly spun her upside down resulting in a nice pendulum into a little bulge, with her back hitting the wall. We were a bit worried about her back so we called the medics, much to her disgust...

    It sounds like she is pretty sore but no broken bones and her back is still in one piece.

    Just a very unfortunate accident. Neither Kate nor her belayer did anything wrong. 

  2. Dave Barnes

    Glad she will be alright.  Maybe we should add this accident to the route description for that climb?  An easy way to keep people aware and to look after themslves?  On this issue.  I fell of Chancellor Direct on the OP's three weeks ago, broke three bones in my left foot and now have plaster up to me knee.  Got out ourslves.  Shit does happen. 

    1. alex lewis

      I dont think adding something to the route description after an accident is the right thing to do; a climb is a climb, just like a grade is a grade. There is nothing uniquely dangerous about this particular climb. What people choose to make of it or do on it does not belong in the description- It should not be subjective.

      Hope she recovers well

  3. tristan heath

    Yeah, I agree alex. Anyway, we would have amend all the climb tasmania guidebooks cause thats the only place you can get any details on hillwood... Would be nice if it was different...

    And on getting out by yourself, I (and everyone other climber in the world) never want to get taken away in an ambulance as a precaution. However, if you smash your back and your in serious pain, you don't try to get up and walk out. Otherwise you might end up in a chair when you really dont need to be.

    But yeah, shit happens. Good luck with ur leg dave.

    1. Dave Barnes

      Thanks for that luck, Tristan.  I was thinking for on-line guide-books re comments on injuries. 

      1. alex lewis

        As many people have said before in other contexts, noone likes to be told how to climb. Guidebooks (print or online) should be an objective description of the route; how people then go about their ascent from this information is up to them.  Removing elements of skill/judgement needed to climb a route by warning of past incidents is not the purpose of a guidebook, and never should be.

        1. Ben Wiessner

          I think it would be good to have a mention of "difficult to clip the anchors" for Sugar Loaf mountain.

          Yet another reason why it would be good to have Hillwood on thesarvo! Perhaps this is something the Tasmanian Climbing Club could look into?

  4. Simon Young

    I dont think guides should ever mention injuries/deaths in descriptions, only that something might be objectively dangerous. I just dont think its appropriate as someone can always figure a way to hurt themselves on any climb! Many climbs have tricky clips, you should be able to make good decisions to commit and clip, or jump. All the while ensuring your feet wont get caught. Also belayer attention is key. For most routes you can see potential runouts etc from the ground.

    In terms of getting Hillwood info off Gerry, goodluck!!