Climber plunges 20 feet onto ledge — then tumbles another 100 feet, Utah rescuers say

A man climbing up a snowy ridge plunged 20 feet onto a ledge — then he tumbled another 100 feet, Utah rescuers say.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team responded to Mount Superior on Nov. 28 after it received a report that a climber had fallen.

Two men were going up the snowy south ridge when one fell 20 feet onto a ledge. The man then tumbled 100 feet before he came to a stop.

His climbing partner called 911 for help, rescuers said. He then went to his location.

The climber had serious head and back injuries from the fall, rescuers said.

“Due to these injuries and the patient’s location, UPD canyon patrol officers requested a Life Flight helicopter to hoist the patient,” rescuers said Nov. 30 on Facebook.

Rescuers did not give any additional information on the injured climber’s condition.

The other man was able to climb down the ridge and back to the trail head, rescuers said.

Mount Superior is a popular peak in Little Cottonwood Canyon, according to the Outdoor Project. The climb gains about 2,640 feet in elevation.

In May, a 31-year-old hiker died while descending Mount Superior, according to KSL. A 46-year-old man also died while hiking in Little Cottonwood Canyon in 2002, according to an obituary published in The Salt Lake Tribune.

This story was originally published November 30, 2021 at 10:49 AM with the headline "Climber plunges 20 feet onto ledge — then tumbles another 100 feet, Utah rescuers say."