Two climbers were rescued from B-52, a cliff in American Fork Canyon, on Sept. 29 after having their equipment malfunction.
The climbers — both 20 years old — called 911 at approximately 5 p.m., according to the Utah County Sheriff's Office. Utah County Sheriff Search and Rescue responded to their call, restoring the climbers to safety in little a little more than three hours.
“The two men were … well equipped and fairly well experienced,” Utah County Sheriff Sgt. Spencer Cannon said.
As the men were climbing, they pulled a rope through one of their anchoring systems. As they did so, a knot developed near the end of the rope that would not allow the rope to pass through the anchor, Cannon explained.
“They could have used that rope to climb back up to remove the knot, but they were worried — rightly so — that an unplanned knot would come loose during that climb. That is when they called 911,” Cannon said.
The rescue continued into the night while volunteers worked to get both climbers down safely from the cliffside.
This type of rescue requires a high level of skill, Cannon said.
“It’s vertical cliffs, and it takes some technical expertise in order for people to engage in this level of activity,” he added.
Neither one of the climbers reported any medical issues, according to Cannon.
The National Park Service includes tips for safe climbing on their website. Among these are double-checking for proper and undamaged equipment, knowing your route, making sure clear communication terms are established within your group and having a plan for injuries or other unanticipated changes.
Training and knowing your limits are also important, Cannon said.
“In preparing for climbing, people should make sure they are trained, or that they go with someone who is experienced, and don’t climb beyond your personal ability and training,” Cannon said.
Nearly 30 volunteers responded to the incident on Sept. 29. The two climbers were safely back on the ground by 8:30 p.m.