Alberta Mountain Runner Adam Campbell Injured
Adam Campbell is a Calgary-based runner with a number of fast times behind him. He recently spent time learning the ropes with Raphael Slawinski and Ian Welsted on long rock routes in the Rockies. Last week, he fell from a ridge while moving in “fast style” in Rogers Pass. The exact location of where he fell is not known. He broke his pelvis and spine T8 to T11. He was airlifted to a hospital and has been discharged. He posted a series of eight photos with updates to Instagram before announcing he would be stopping social media for some time.
Somephotos show him on the ridge, some show him injured and other photos show him in the hospital. In one post, he assessed the accident: “Last week I, along with two friends were attempting a long enchantment in Rogers Pass in fast style. While efficient and in some regards safer due to minimizing exposure, it can mean running margins on safety if shit hits the fan. Our plan was ambitious but within our skill and fitness limits.
“A few things to think about for these outings: You have do have a solid plan, you have to have the competence to do the route as you plan to, having a bail options identified is a good idea, known that they go, tell people your plan and give a generous, but reasonable, ETA. For terrain that is less technical and where the weather is less variable, I will bring less gear. A few bits that we had on us that inevitably saved me were some extra layers of insulation (we were likely running into the nigh so needed insulation), an emergency bivvy sack that we used (added warmth to me and made it easier for rescuers to spot us), helmet (needless to say mine is smashed, but it did its job both from rock fall and impact), sufficient food and calories (subjectively based in needs and length, I usually carry 500- 1,000 ml water for every four hours and 150-ish calls/ hour out), on this route we had 60 metres of rappel line, some basic protection and slings if we needed to build an anchor to rappel sections, good sticky rubber shoes, a route map and idea of current conditions and the notion of a forecast.
“I had on a pack which saved back from worse impact than it sustained, I also wore long sleeves, which stopped some likely abrasions. I did have a pair light pants, a toque, some warm gloves and headlamp if we did need to push into the night. We also had an ice axe and light crampons for glaciers and a possible snowfield ascent. I had a spot DeLorme In Reach on me that we deployed the SOS button on it, luckily Nick, my partner had time to run to a peak and get cell service to help guide and hence speed up the search. Stabilizing the victim and getting them to proper care quickly are critical tools when every second and decision can make a difference. Mostly, no one in our group panicked, everyone did what was needed to do. That is harder to train and prepare for.”
Campbell and Canmore-based Andy Reed recently set a new record up Mount Temple with a 2:45 car-to-car time. Campbell, Slawinski and Welsted roped up together for an ascent of Generosity 5.10 on EEOR near Canmore in July. He then made a fast round-trip ascent of Mount Assiniboine. While there is no cause given as to why he fell in Rogers Pass, it can be speculated that he lost his footing or the rock broke beneath his feet. We wish Campbell a speedy recovery.
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