Caldwell Injured in Ground Fall

Tommy Caldwell, America’s best all-around rock climber, dislocated his elbow and broke his wrist in a ground fall at Indian Creek, Utah. Caldwell had scrambled up easy ground at the base of a route on Reservoir Wall and was standing on a small ledge preparing to place his first cam when the ledge collapsed and he tumbled about 30 feet to the ground. “My left arm took all the abuse,” he said, adding, “It’s always the easy ground that gets you.” Caldwell expects a full recovery from the injuries and hopes to be training again within a month. However, he said, “I’m playing it by ear on my climbing plans. I know with these elbow dislocations it can be really hard to lock off or do thumbs-down jams.”