Injured Climber Rescued From Central Endless Wall

Early on the afternoon of November 1st, rangers received a report that a climber had been injured in a fall on the popular rock-climbing cliffs at Central Endless Wall. Rangers, EMS personnel, and members of the Fayette County vertical rescue team responded and found the victim – Nicholas Smith, 21, of Powhatan, Virginia – within an hour. Smith was found to be suffering from an apparent compound broken leg. He had been lead climbing the 5.12 c/d rated and bolted sport route known as “Pud’s Pretty Dress” in the Kaymoor Slab area of the Central Endless Wall when he fell from a rock when about 60 feet up. Smith’s climbing rope caught him, but he swung out from the overhanging rock face and struck a tree with his leg, breaking it. His belayer and climbing partners made a 911 call, then attended to his injuries until rescuers arrived. A technical hauling system was constructed and Smith was raised by litter to the cliff top. He was then flown to a hospital in Charleston.