Colorado rock climber falls 70 feet to death in Utah canyon

The man fell when his rappel anchor broke loose in Farnsworth Canyon on Saturday. Photo: Emery County Search and Rescue

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — Authorities say a 41-year-old Colorado man died after falling about 70 feet (21 meters) during a rock climbing excursion in Utah.

Steamboat Pilot & Today reports Arlo Lott Jr., of Steamboat Springs, fell when his rappel anchor broke loose in Farnsworth Canyon on Saturday.

Emery County Search and Rescue, the Emery County Sheriff’s Office and Goblin Valley State Park staff hiked into the area and rappelled down to Lott, who was taken out of the canyon by helicopter. Sheriff’s officials say his condition quickly deteriorated, and the medical flight crew tried to save his life for nearly an hour.

It was the second climbing death in Emery County in as many days.

On Friday, 50-year-old Craig Barlow, of Salt Lake City, was watching his friends rappel when the ledge he was sitting on broke loose. He fell about 50 feet (15 meters) and died at a hospital.