Incident:Death due to dangerous flow and hydraulic in Steels Creek 2025/07/06
| Incident:Death due to dangerous flow and hydraulic in Steels Creek 2025/07/06 | |
|---|---|
| Date | 2025/07/06 |
| Location | Steels Creek |
| Severity | Fatality |
| Canyoneering-related | Yes
|
| SAR involvement | Yes
|
| Navigation problem | No
|
| Swift water problem | Yes
|
| Environmental problem | No
|
| Communication problem | No
|
| Planning problem | No
|
| Skills problem | Yes
|
| Body movement problem | No
|
| Rigging problem | No
|
| Rappel problem | No
|
| Insufficient gear | No
|
| Gear failure | No
|
Summary[edit]
Important - this report is compiled using direct knowledge from responding rescuers on scene, event attendees, and individuals who later debriefed with the event organizer. The author of this write-up was not present for the accident, and it is subject to new, additional information.
Fatality on Steels Creek, July 6, 2025.
An organized Facebook event was scheduled for July 5-6, 2025. As stated in the event page, it was open to all skill levels, with canyon descenders provided as needed. The plan was to descend Gingercake Creek and Steels Creek on the same day. According to attendees on Day 1, the large group got a late start and the normal access road to Gingercake was closed, adding an additional 5 miles to the typical approach beta; all resulting in the group finishing the last rappel on Gingercake at or after dark. They were unable to descend Steels Creek that day.
On Day 2, the event organizer and two attendees started the Steels Creek descent. It’s noted that two days prior to the accident, a different group descended the route and reported that the water levels in the R2-R3 pothole series were holding dangerous recirculation hydraulics.
When the event group got to R2, they spent 20-30 minutes deliberating on how to best avoid the first pothole hydraulic and eventually relocated the anchor to change the rappel line. It’s noted in the Ropewiki beta that there is a 5 minute bypass trail, which rejoins the route immediately below these potholes. Attendee 1 reportedly wanted to go first on rope and was excited to do so, with the event organizer managing the anchor and Attendee 2 acting as a spotter. The anchor was approximately 20’ back from the rappel line and rigged SRT with a tied off figure 8 as the block. Attendee 1 was experienced in other rope sports, but was new to class C canyon rappel techniques, with his reported first use of canyon-specific descenders (Palikoa, Sqwurel, etc) being the day prior. Attendee 1 was using a Sqwurel for Steels Creek and demonstrated understanding of how to lock off the device twice before this rappel. With the new rappel line, Attendee 1 was told to go straight down and avoid the pothole. It was also discussed that he may need to ascend the rope, which he was reportedly prepared to do.
It’s unknown how, but Attendee 1 accidentally ended up in the first pothole while on rappel and yelled up for help. He was then reported to be underwater for 2-3 minutes while a 3:1 haul system was set up, initiated, and rescue contacted. He was hauled to a small ledge approximately 15’ above the pothole. He was unconscious with facial abrasions by this time, and CPR with rescue breaths was initiated. After 8 minutes, Attendee 1 was hauled the remaining ~15’ to a larger ledge, where CPR was resumed for another 52 minutes until the first on scene arrived. It was then decided to no longer continue. The rappel setup and rigging was unconfirmed by rescuers, as both were already cleaned prior to arrival on scene.
Analysis:
The group’s response was notably prompt. Hauling, accessing, starting CPR, and notifying rescue as quickly as they did were correct actions to take, as well as attempting to change the rappel line by relocating the anchor. With inexperienced Class C canyoners attending, the 5 minute bypass trail, which rejoins the route below the potholes, could have been a better option for this particular trip given the complex water hazard that is difficult to avoid while on rope. If the bypass was not an option, a more experienced swiftwater rappeller could have gone first to evaluate the accuracy and efficacy of the new line.