Lost UT Jumper

[mknutson]

My apologies for being too matter of fact. Unfortunately this hasn't been the best two weeks of my life.

WSbase ? Yes, the front of the suit was destroyed.

PC location ? It was out. Although I'm under the assunpstion that the medical examiner probably pulled it out when they removed his gear. Was it a PC in tow ? Perhaps. But since there was no witnesses and his video camera was more or less destroyed we may never know. The Sheriff's department confiscated the camera to send to a lab for a possible reconstruction of the tape

Exit point ? West wall. Not the best choice. The general idea is that he got the west exit and south exit confused. I have been told it is 600'-700' from exit to impact. Although I am not certain.

Where was the body found ? About 75'-100' down the talus from the ledge.


I did the best I could with the evaluation of the gear. Nobody else I asked wanted to handle the gear for obvious reasons but it had to be done. Sorry for being such a dissapointment and not being able to provide the exact details.

I give you massive cudo's for stepping up to something that will probably be the most difficult thing in your life.
I appreciate you sharing this information with us all.

I do have a question that does not seem to add up in my head:

if the wall was 700' to impact MAX, and you found the body 100' horizontally from the edge. And he had a wingsuit on, how did he not get further away before impact.

I do not know the exact math, but I would assume that with talus elevation drop, and forward momentum alone, without a wingsuit would have create >100' of horizontal separation.

Then I would assume there would be another 10' to 100' of momentum to carry the jumper further down the talus even more. Right?

[lifewithoutanet]

Hey, guys. I get the need to know the specifics, but can we maybe give Stitch a breather for a couple of days? Not only did he go through hell for over a week, it ended with something few of us have ever had to do. He might appreciate a return to normallcy and the chance to relax and recouperate a bit.
-C.

[stitch]

Mick, I don't know how to answer those questions because I have never had much interest in wingsuits. Maybe Johnny, Avery, or Uncle Charlie can offer some insight. I was never at the actual site where the body was recovered. I only was shown photos from the scene. Perhaps the lower ledge extends a good deal farther than indicated in the photos.


Colin, while I do really appreciate your thoughts. I find it much easier to deal with this situation if I keep myself occupied. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.

[lifewithoutanet]

Colin, while I do really appreciate your thoughts. I find it much easier to deal with this situation if I keep myself occupied. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.

Cool.
-C.

[ghetto]

Not a disappointment bro. You've pretty much attained epic status through your actions. You stepped up where many did not and many more would not even if they could.

You have done a great thing Stitch. From beginning to end.

If anyone draws any disappoinment from your actions, they can suck my balls after they field a throat punch.

+1

[RexGreen]

I think it was misunderstood, the cliff is seven seconds to impacting a good size ledge. Stitch is saying he was found underneath said ledge, "75-100 feet down the talus of the ledge", not the exit point.

[mknutson]

I think it was misunderstood, the cliff is seven seconds to impacting a good size ledge. Stitch is saying he was found underneath said ledge, "75-100 feet down the talus of the ledge", not the exit point.

Thank you so much for that. This makes more sense now.