Weekend Whipper: The Triple Ripper

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Michael Scarborough is nearly at the top of the 80-foot finger crack when his foot slips.

He’s practically making eye contact with the anchor to “Gettin’ Schooled” (5.12) in Long Canyon, Utah—Evan Wisheropp’s newest addition to Maverick Buttress—and he doesn’t lose his balance yet. If he can stabilize, he can clip the chains.

Staring down at the three .1 cams that protect his fall, Scarborough cranks on finger locks and attempts to re-position his feet. Then he lets go.

All three .1s rip, one by one. Each explodes out of the crack in a pop and puff of sand.

By the time Scarborough’s fall slows, he’s staring up 30 feet from his original position, swinging from a blue Black Diamond nut.

Later, Scarborough said that the three .1s were likely placed too loosely to catch his fall. Luckily, he was wearing a helmet and he didn’t get his foot caught behind the rope, so he walked away free from injuries.

Happy Friday, and be safe out there this weekend.

Video courtesy of Evan Wisheropp.

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