A very experienced rock climber and Park City ski patroller died after falling 50-feet in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah at about 3:15pm on Wednesday, April 8th, 2020, according to Salt Lake County Search & Rescue.

The fall occurred in the Whipple Fork area just north of Storm Mountain.

29-year-old Wade Meade was rock climbing with fellow Park City ski patroller when the fall occurred.

“Wade reached up his hand to grab a hold and the rock broke away, cutting his belay line.”

– Greater Salt Lake Police Sergeant Melody Gray

Wade’s partner called 911 and reported the accident immediately.

According to Wade’s climbing partner, Wade was climbing a traditionally protected route when he fell.

Wade was reportedly conscious after the fall and very injured.

Wade was struggling to breathe, had facial trauma, and several broken ribs as a result of the fall.

“He [Wade] sustained facial trauma and was unable to feel his legs. He was also having trouble breathing, and Meade’s partner surmised that he had several broken ribs.”

– Rock & Ice

A helicopter was dispatched to the scene of the accident for rescue and dropped personnel via hoist to the injured climber about 2-hours after the accident occurred.

“Unified Police, Unified Fire, Search and Rescue, Life Flight and a helicopter from the DPS (Department of Public Safety) headed to the scene of the accident. When on scene a Search and Rescue member and a DPS flight crew member were inserted via hoist from the helicopter to assist the patient.”

– Salt Lake County Search & Rescue, 4/9/20

Wade died during the extraction at approximately 5:35pm.

Neither Wade’s exact cause of death nor his exact injuries have been made public at this time.

Wade’s partner reportedly did as much 1st aid as he possibly could, according to Sergeant Gray.

Initial police reports stated that the climber had only fallen 15-feet and that he called 911 on his own and both of those statements are now known to be untrue.

“Original dispatch logs make it sound like it was actually Wade calling.  It was very unclear.”

– Greater Salt Lake Police Sergeant Melody Gray

According to Sergeant Gray, Utah’s “Stay Safe.  Stay Home” order doesn’t ban climbing.

“It’s about maintaining social distancing and limiting groups to smaller than 10. You can go outside for essentials, recreation and exercise, that kind of thing. There are no restrictions against climbing. For state parks, the only thing is that you have to live within the county to go there.”

– Greater Salt Lake Police Sergeant Melody Gray

Wade was a strong rock climber having climbed the challenging Salathé Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite, CA.

Wade was originally from Santa Margharita, California near San Luis Obispo, attended college at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, and was living & working as a ski patroller in Park City, UT at the time of his death.

Wade was also a strong skier having skied Mt. Whitney, CA.

Wade had lived and worked in Yosemite, CA after college.

Ironically, Wade Meade’s last Facebook post on December 11th, 2019 read:

“Go outside. It’s way more dangerous indoors.”

– Wade Meade via Facebook

Salt Lake County Search & Rescue Press Release:

Rescue #7, Callout Fallen Climber, Whipple Fork area/ Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Call-out: Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

Salt Lake County Search and Rescue was called out on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 8th for an injured climber in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The climber’s partner called 911, said that his partner had fallen and provided their location. Unified Police, Unified Fire, Search and Rescue, Life Flight and a helicopter from the DPS (Department of Public Safety) headed to the scene of the accident. When on scene a Search and Rescue member and a DPS flight crew member were inserted via hoist from the helicopter to assist the patient.

The exact nature of the accident is unclear. What is known is that the rope was severed and was likely cut by a large piece of rock resulting in the patient’s fall. The fall was estimated to be around 40-50 feet. The patient sustained massive internal injuries and succumbed before he could be removed from the mountain.

The patient was a very experienced climber who suffered a tragic accident, one that could happen to any climber. We are humbled and saddened by this reality. Many of the accidents the SAR team responds to have a positive outcome. Losing a patient to the severity of their injuries is a rare occurrence that has left our team with heavy hearts. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the patient’s family and friends. The outpouring of concern and support from the outdoor community is evidence of his passion for life and the outdoors. He will surely be missed.

Thanks to DPS for being able to get people on the ground in the terrain.

For any climbers who need help, please visit the Climbing Grief Fund to find support. https://americanalpineclub.org/grieffund