Two fall at Black Canyon

MONTROSE — Two climbers were injured in separate accidents at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison over the weekend.

The first fall occurred Saturday, when a Tennessee woman fell 30 feet down a talus slope on the Gunnison Route, which descends 1,800 feet from the canyon’s South Rim.

According to a press release from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, JoAnne White, of Silver Point, Tenn., fell nearly two-thirds of the way into the canyon, sustaining a head injury.

Two people with her hiked out of the canyon to report the accident Sunday morning. Rangers determined a helicopter was needed, and White was flown from the canyon late that afternoon.

The second accident was witnessed by a ranger on patrol. Brent Mims saw Daniel Dalton, 22, of Centennial, Colo., fall 20 feet from the Casual Route on the canyon’s North Rim Sunday morning.

Dalton’s climbing partner and Mims sprang into action, lowering Dalton to a ledge where Mims set up a 75-foot traverse.

The two then lowered Dalton to the bottom of the gully, from which Dalton and his partner hiked back to the rim of the canyon, about 800 feet up.

Dalton sustained injuries to his face, head, hands and arms that included abrasions and bruises.