Campbell suffered a broken pelvis and spine T8-T11 and had severe lacerations and soft tissue injuries while traversing in British Columbia's Rogers Pass
Canadian trail and mountain runner Adam Campbell exited the hospital and has returned home after a near-fatal climbing fall in the Selkirk Mountains. On Aug. 30, Campbell suffered a broken pelvis and spine T8-T11 and had severe lacerations and soft tissue injuries while traversing in British Columbia’s Rogers Pass.
With Campbell at the time were friends Dakota Jones and Nick Elson, two other accomplished mountain and trail runners. They were able to call for help and Campbell was rescued by Parks Canada Search and Rescue and transported via helicopter to Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital. Campbell suffered post-surgery complications but he says that the long-term recovery prognosis is positive.
Campbell says he was doing “a long enchantment in Rogers Pass in fast style.” He’s well-known in the Canadian mountain and trail running scene having finished third at the Hardrock 100. He has competed for Canada with the national mountain running team.
The Canmore, Alta. and Calgary resident was wearing a helmet during the climb. “Needless to say mine is smashed, but it did its job both from rock fall and impact,” Campbell says. He also had a backpack and long sleeve shirt which he says helped cushion the fall and limit the abrasions to his arms.
Elson, who finished second at the Mount Marathon Race race in Alaska, was able to speed up the rescue process as he had a cell phone and ran up to a nearby peak to guide the search team. Campbell says “I owe them a huge debt of gratitude.”
Rogers Pass is located in the heart of Glacier National Park and is a popular spot for rock climbers, mountaineering and hiking.
Campbell posted a series of eight photos to his Instagram page detailing the series of events and how his recovery has been progressing. In addition to the photos, he explains the roller coaster of emotions felt throughout the entire process, the necessities of packing gear during such climbs as well as details of his recovery process.