Suicide Rock, a famous destination for rock climbers in the Inland Empire near Idyllwild, almost proved deadly for two Orange County adventurists last weekend, when one fell as much as 100 feet and the other was smashed into the side of the cliff and knocked out.
But thanks to the efforts of fellow climbers and authorities -- who rescued the pair in the face of marble-sized hail and pounding rain from a storm that blew in out of nowhere to blanket a clear blue sky -- both are expected to survive.
Trevor Mathews, 21, of Irvine suffered significant head trauma and remains in intensive care. His friend and climbing partner, Claire McKay, 22, of Costa Mesa was treated and released but will undergo facial reconstruction surgery to treat a fractured cheekbone. She also broke her arm and has severe bruising, some caused by being pelted with hail as she lay unconscious on a ledge.
In accounts now emerging days after the accident, relatives, rescue workers and fellow climbers say Mathews and McKay began their climb Saturday under near-perfect conditions and clear skies. They took the Captain Hook route up the cliff, which, despite its name, is regarded as a relatively safe and easy climb. Both are said to be experienced climbers who train at an indoor facility. Both were wearing helmets.
They were on the second phase of their climb when Mathews, who was about 40 feet above McKay, slipped while trying to set a wedging device for his rope, said McKay's father, Michael, in an interview Thursday.
A second device securing the rope to the rock pulled loose and Mathews fell. McKay was on the same rope and was slammed into the face of the rock and knocked unconscious when the rope pulled taut as Mathews plummeted.
"Accidents, when they happen, everything goes bad," Michael McKay said. Mathews' family could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Mathews fell to the ground. Fellow climbers saw the accident and called for help.
"I heard the sound of gear clanking down, and I thought, 'That kind of stinks, they dropped some gear,' " said Phil Sanchez, 31, an elementary school teacher in the Palm Springs Unified School District who was climbing near the pair and later helped in their rescue.
"Then I look and see Trevor falling in a fetal position, and I kept wondering, 'When is his gear going to catch?' " Sanchez said. "As soon as he hit the ground I thought, 'Oh my God.' It took me two or three seconds to really register what happened."
