| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borden, Jim | Not recorded | Male | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Sunday, 22 December 1974 About 4000 feet inside "X" Cave, Jim Borden, Tom Shifflett and Mike Dyas placed an expansion bolt so they could rig a line away from the worst spray of a 45-foot waterfall. The bolt used was a 3/8-inch by 21/4-inch Star model. This bolt is a masonry-type anchor which is set by an expander plug inserted into the base and pounded in. As Borden began the initial descent, the bolt abruptly pulled out, sending him into a free fall. Fortunately, the 3/8-inch Goldline had been backed up to a small stalagmite just above the fall. Borden's plunge was partially arrested barely inches above the water-filled bottom. No significant injury was sustained. Borden's companions were able to rerig the rope over a chert projection. Borden was able to ascend without assistance, although lightless and hampered by the waterfall spray.
Analysis:
The bolt had been placed in sound rock, and there is no obvious explanation for the failure of the bolt. It is possible that the plug was not driven in far enough to adequately expand the shank when the bolt was set. If possible, bolts and pitons should be placed so that the pull on them is perpendicular to the shaft. In any case, single bolts and pitson should not be trusted but instead should be backed up with an additional bolt, piton or natural anchor. Borden's hard hat, a Fibre-Metal type, was lost during his fall when the elastic chinstrap snapped. Hard hats which are better suited for leaving are on the market. "The fall could have been prevented by having belayed the rappeller with a secondary line. However, the small party involved was already burdened with one rope, a kit of bolting hardware, hammer, surveying gear, vertical equipment, wet suits, and normal caving paraphernalia. For this reason, no consideration was given to hauling in a second rope." (Dyas)
Cave name is a pseudonym.
This record was last updated on 27th Apr 2024 at 23:11 UTC.