This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A man suffered serious rope burns to his hands when he slid 80 feet down a climbing rope Sunday in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The man was on belay about 4 p.m. when his carabiner disengaged, said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Brad Taylor. Investigators do not know whether the equipment failed or if it had been hooked up incorrectly, Taylor said.
When the man became disconnected from the rope 80 feet off the ground, he grabbed the rope and slid down, Taylor said. Other climbers involved in a University of Utah rescue training class were nearby and treated his rope burns while medics were en route.
Erin Alberty
Editor's note: This version corrects that the climber was not part of the rescue training class. Authorities provided incorrect information on his affiliation.