Weekend Whipper: Quick Instincts Prevent Nasty Groundfall

Readers, please send your Weekend Whipper videos, information, and any lessons learned to Anthony Walsh, awalsh@outsideinc.com.

Many Weekend Whippers are horrifying, stomach churning clips. Ropes cut, bolts fail, and belayers (or leaders) are caught slacking. This video, submitted by Jeremy Wendell, should have belonged in that category too. Wendell, climbing in Hidden Valley, Vietnam, moves confidently up to the third bolt, grabs a jug, and then inexplicably falls while pulling rope up to clip. If Wendell had hit the deck, it would have been his fault alone.

But the belayer, Tomas Suhel, was ready. In the lead up to the fall, you can see Suhel paying out barely enough slack, ready to reel it all in should Wendell slip off the 5.11’s slick holds in 90-degree heat. When Wendell makes his earthbound descent, Suhel sits back hard in his harness while taking in as much rope as he can. It’s an Olympic-caliber catch.

Happy Friday, and be safe out there this weekend.

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