Do We Shut Down Nutty Putty?

Unless you've had your head shoved in sand the past week you've heard of the medical student and amateur spelunker John Jones who passed away in Utah's Nutty Putty cave. I half heartedly followed this story as I went about my daily to do's like most people. " I'm not one of those people to glue my face to the TV every time something starts to go down." although I will admit I watched the "Balloon boy" saga unfold. The case of John Jones didn't interest me until his unfortunate and early demise that occurred in the early hours of Thursday, November 26th 2009. I was only concerned at that point by the fact that it was a totally failed rescue. Now I know I will be hated by some for critiquing the efforts of courageous volunteers who selflessly make there way 150 feet below the earths crust to help someone they barely know. BUT... For those that don't know my credentials I am a Firefighter, a full time career firefighter and I routinely work on rescue units which have some of the equipment that is used in these types of rescues, and to add to it I'm a recreational climber in my own time. Saying all of that I'm laying the groundwork for my true reasons in writing this article.

Early reports said that at one time the rescuers had succeeded in lifting Jones 12 feet up only to have their anchor at the roof of the cave give way and drop Jones back into his cumbersome position. Another account talks of a rescuer chipping away at rock with a hammer, but that he could only swing 6 inches so headway was slow. Next and the final straw came as I sat down to enjoy a quiet Sunday morning and was greeted by the news that the decision had been met to close the cave permanently and never recover the body of Mr. Jones. This announcement infuriated me in a way that few things in life have. I was angered not by the death of an adventurer so much as the robbery of adventure from others who would want to visit the area. The more I thought of it the more I dug and the more things didn't add up.
I had some questions.

1. What was the anchor that gave way?

2. Why was the rescuer using a hammer when technical rescue units carry air powered hammers that are compact enough to take into such spaces?

3. What was the ultimate cause of death?

For question number 1, This should never happen. When in rescue situations anchors should be fastened in a way such as to hold many times the stress they will incur to ensure their stability. It seems somebody screwed up Marjorly here.

Number 2., If he was trapped 150' down there is little reason pneumatic tools couldn't be used.

And last but definitely not least. Number 3. Did Jones die from being heels over head for over a day, or did he die from being dropped on his head from 12 feet up? It seems too convenient that they would close this cave permanently to cover up a coroners review of the body. But this cannot become a mainstay in the adventure world. What happens when a freediver drowns from shallow water blackout? or a snowboarder causes an avalanche and perishes. Maybe a skydiver burns in from a bad chute pack job. Do we shut down the reefs, Mountains and skies too? My belief in the matter of John Jones is simple. Let us get him out. Don't bother calling your fire department, your forest service or your "land management" group, If his body was coming out and somebody's inadequate anchor line came loose and dropped him back where he was, there's no reason we can't get him back again. I guarantee this let me put together a team and Our anchor will not fail, and when we pull his body is out you can call the county coroner and we'll see what killed the adventurous young man. Being stuck, or being dropped? I know what it sounds like to me, But you make your own call, But remember this. Tragedy happens everyday, Kids are hit by speeding cars, Fires tear through homes and take lives, and sometimes adventurers perish in their pursuit of great things. When these tragedies happen we have to decide to keep moving ahead, closing the peak will not stop the climber's ambition just his ability to live it. Never let anyone take your ability to live your ambitions or dreams. Not without a fight.