Audio By Carbonatix
East Vail’s The Fang, one of the most notable climbs in the region, wounded another victim Tuesday when a climber fell almost 10 stories off of it. Just 30 feet short of the top of the climb, the entire formation collapsed, sending the poor dude plummeting over 100 feet. Miraculously, he wasn’t crushed by the falling chunks of ice.
He was airlifted to Vail Valley Medical Center where he’s listed in serious condition. It took rescue crews 45 minutes to get to him and another 45 to get him out. Early reports indicate that The Fang might not have been ready for climbing.
Tony Angelis, who has been ice climbing in the Vail area at least 12 years, said that the Fang had just connected to the ground this weekend. He said at the time it was very slender — “a pencil” — and would need some more time to “fatten up” before it was climbable.
Ouch. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, guy.
When news happens, Westword is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $50,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. If Westword matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
