Why did that boy look over the cliff?

Last week we had young man from southeastern Iowa who during the Memorial Day weekend while at Eagle Point Park near the Quad Cities was most seriously injured after falling 80 feet off a cliff. The news sources were sketchy on how he ended up falling 80’ over this cliff or bluff so I’m at a loss to explain the details of how it happened. I’ve not read anything this week about his situation so other than those close to the family no one knows. Hopefully he’s rehabbing and moving towards discharge from the Iowa City Hospital and Clinics.

13-year-old boy falls from bluff overlooking Mississippi River

How did they rescue the boy that fell 80’ over a rock ledge?

Where in Iowa can you learn to rock climb safely?

I wondered all week about him and started thinking about a friend of mine who is a guide in Colorado. And that brought back memories of being roped to a vertical wall and having lunch while we paused from climbing an ice wall in the Mount Blanc region of the French Alps. I recall looking upward at Jamie and below me at Eugenio and paused to appreciate the beauty of our surroundings. Jamie yelled down for me to stay put we would have lunch here. The surroundings and the camaraderie were somehow worth the risk of what we were doing. And knowing, well Jamie knew I just listened and did what he told us to do, how to use the equipment made it all the better. Jamie pointed out that we simply needed to learn to trust our equipment and that comes with understanding its limits. Behind us was a massive glacier and suspended over it was a cable car from Chamonix on the French side to Courmeyeur, Italy. Four gondolas suspended hundreds of feet about the glacier meeting in the middle while the other two cars let passengers out in each country. An amazing trip really and one that makes me appreciate why this young man would want to look over the edge.

This young man may or may not have the same bug to climb or to experience what is on the other side of the bluff, but whatever made him get close to the edge he needs to learn how to do it in a way that he too can learn to trust his equipment. Staying safe is the first rule. You can’t come back to climb another day if you’re in the hospital.

Back there in the Alps I was completely captivated with my surroundings and the adrenaline rush I experienced will stay with me forever. Which brings me back to our little friend who fell off the bluff in Clinton, Iowa. He got close to the edge for a reason; he just didn’t end up there by happerstance. And all week I wondered about that reason and what he may have been thinking about. Well I can’t really contact this 13-year-old, his parents would think I was prying but I still wondered and having had the busy week we just did there was not the time. But I did contact Jamie Pierce the rock climbing teacher from Colorado Springs, Colorado. He wrote back and is planning on trips to Europe to climb in the French Alps as well as the Matterhorn in the Switzerland. Both places I’ve been too and these are fantastic places to learn to climb. I highly recommend Jamie as your guide. He’s personable and highly qualified. He runs his operation out of America; Colorado Springs, Colorado. He’s a great guy.

Jamie is on Facebook and has a climbing company website. His company is called Pikes Peak Alpine School.

Location: 10 South Limit Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 80905 Phone: 719-630-3934

He’s got some great photographs on the website and does Twitter. You can also sign up for a free newsletter, The Ropes. His bio is set out below.

I guess the lesson for today has to do with assessing risk and learning how to reduce the risk of bodily injury or death. If you’re going to get close to the cliff’s edge learn how to do it right. We wish you well.

Here is Jamie’s bio:

JAMIE PIERCE - IFMGA/ AMGA Certified Mountain Guide & Avalanche Safety Instructor
Jamie has been an active climbing and ski guide since 1989. Originally from the mountainous region of Elgin, Illinois he transplanted to Colorado in the late 80's after he skied out the terrain of the Midwest. He's always been curious if an avalanche has ever occurred in the Midwest? Please contact him if you know of one!

AUSTIN BADEAU - Rock Climbing Instructor - A recent graduate of CU Boulder, Austin brings solid and consistent leadership to PPAS, acquiring quite a list of technical routes and ascents to his resume. We're pleased to have him back again this season.

John Gadbois - Hiking and Mountain Running Guide - John Gadbois brings his passion and love for the mountains over from his experience and love the outdoors on a bike. John has over twenty years in the road, mountain and track cycling experience, working as a mechanic and bicycle fitter for the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes and for a Paralympics Gold Medalist.He currently spends his leisure time riding, running or hiking the extensive trail network of Pike National Forest.

GUIDES 2010 - PPAS provides instruction and guiding for people of all ages and backgrounds. Our guides & instructors are experienced climbers willing to share their love of the mountains. All are either Wilderness First Responders or Wilderness First Aid qualified and certified. Additionally we customize trips for individuals and small groups seeking private or semi-private outings to the Pikes Peak regions premier mountains, Crags and Wilderness areas.