Recovery Fund for Quinn Brett After Life-changing Fall
On Oct. 11, American climber Quinn Brett was climbing with Josie McKee when she took a 100-foot fall while climbing The Nose.
Brett fell from the Boot Flake and hit the Texas Flake. She continued to fall to the boulders at the base of the feature.
Brett suffered serious injuries, which has left her paralyzed from the waist down. Visit here to donate to Brett’s recover fund.
The two rangers flown to Brett were Brandon Lathum and Aaron Smith. McKee, a former Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) member, was quick to act until help arrived.
You can see photos by Tom Evans of the rescue here.
Libby Sauter announced the accident on a still-growing Supertopo.com thread, which you can see here.
Brett is an accomplished big wall climber with a number of impressive achievements to her name. In 2012, she set the female speed record for The Nose with Jes Meiris in 10 hours and 19 minutes. The record was later broken.
In 2014, Brett and Sauter enchained The Nose and Lurking Fear on El Cap in less than 22 hours. They were the first female team to climb two El Cap routes in a day.
In Feb. 2016, Brett was with Max Barlerin and Mike Lukens and established Colorado Route 5.11c 500m on the South Face of Fitz Roy.
Later in 2016, Brett and McKee climbed seven Yosemite big routes in seven days. On day one, they climbed The Nose 5.9 C2 1,000m, day two they climbed Lost Arrow Spire Direct 5.8 C2 450m, day three they climbed West Face of Leaning Tower 5.7 C2 240m.
On day four they climbed South Face of Mount Watkins 5.8 C2 650m, on day five they climbed South Face of Washington Column 5.8 C1 400m. On day six they climbed Half Dome Northwest Face 5.8 C1 400m and on day seven they climbed Southwest Face of Liberty Cap 5.9 C3 400m.
Earlier this year, Brett made a rare free ascent, and likely first female ascent, of the eight-pitch Spaceshot 5.13 in Zion.
Brett has a long road of recovery ahead of her. Visit here to donate to Brett’s recover fund.