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SALT LAKE CITY — A hiker was injured after getting stuck while climbing in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Sunday.
About 1 p.m., Eric Newhart, 32, was climbing an area called Cashmere Crack when he intentionally inverted himself to go feet first up a wall. Newhart said this is a common technique for climbing a steep wide crack.
"While working up the crack inverted, I used a technique that involves slotting my knee in the crack above me. Unfortunately, my knee got stuck in the rock. however, and I was unable to remove it myself," Newhart told KSL.com.
Newhart's climbing friends called search and rescue and used ropes to provide support for him while they waited. When rescue crews arrived, they and Newhart's friends set up a haul system.
"After several hours of hauling on different parts of my body and dumping Nalgenes (water bottles) of soapy water on my knee, we were able to get my knee out of the crack," Newhart said.
He was transported in critical condition by helicopter to the University of Hospital, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office said
As of Monday, Newhart said he is stable and should "make a swift recovery."
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