| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varney, Linda | Not recorded | Female | Burns | Brake hand |
In the Spring of 1980 a group of cavers were doing the 700 plus foot entrance drop into Hoya de Guaguas. The rope in use was a 1200 foot PMI. Linda Varney, with some caving experience including several deep pits, prepared to descend. She was using a Bluewater rack with five bars, the top two grooved from use to a depth of 301/2 of the original diameter. At the lip this caver expressed a nervousness about doing the drop and a fear of peer pressure if she failed to proceed- several of her friends had already descended.
She was about 200 feet down when those above and below heard the sound of the rope passing through the rack increase in pitch. A shout from above to "Slow down!" was answered by a shriek. The rappel was out of control. A caver below yelled to her to ram her brake bars up. Grasping the rope with her gloved braking hand, Varney was able to bring the rappel under control a short distance above the bottom. Following first aid to the burned and blistered braking hand the victim was able to ascend unassisted.
ANALYSIS: Tinsley cites a number of factors as contributing to the incident. These include: 1) five versus six bars on the rack, 2) two bars quite worn, 3) the PMI new and still containing the manufacturer's lubricants, 4) lack of experience and, 5) previous instruction from macho cavers. I disagree with the first three. Five or six bars makes little difference--it is how closely they are jammed that controls friction. The wear likewise is not significant, for the same reason. PMI is not a really fast rope and lubricants should have little effect. I believe Varney must have started off with the bars too far apart. One should always, if possible, get on the rope near the anchor and back toward the edge, putting one's weight on the set-up to test the friction, making adjustments before going over the breakover.
As to the 4th factor, Varney, with several deep pits done cannot be said to be inexperienced.
Varney obviously was yielding to peer pressure in doing the rappel when she didn't feel right about it. Her previous instruction and experience had apparently been obtained in a 'macho' atmosphere and thus she felt pressure to perform. I wonder if macho types realize the atmosphere they generate occasionally kills people?
Things might have gone differently if a) she were using a safety (ascender or knot, on the main line above her rappel device, attached to her seat harness) and b) she were not the last of her group of friends to descend. Those of lesser experience shouldn't go last or first.