Climber injured: Man falls from rock face at Ravens Roost, flown to U.Va.

By Bob Stuart

Published: September 1, 2008

ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY — A 40-year-old man was airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center on Monday night after plunging more than 60 feet while climbing the rock base leading to Ravens Roost Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The victim suffered “significant but not life-threatening” injuries, said Marc Cyr, a park ranger for the Montebello station of the National Park Service.
Cyr said the man’s climbing partner called 911 just after 6 p.m. when the man fell while climbing up the rock face leading to the overlook.
Emergency crews from area rescue squads and fire departments used a sled and rope system to pull the man up a loose rock trail to the top of the overlook. He was pulled to safety at about 7:20 p.m.
Cyr said the man was awake and alert when rescuers got to him.
The man was then taken by ambulance to Humpback Rocks and airlifted by helicopter to U.Va.
An investigation into the accident is continuing, Cyr said.
Ravens Roost Overlook is located at milepost 11 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.