Evan "Crazy Leg" Muldoon

Hi, my name is Evan Muldoon. I’ve created this GoFundMe to help pay my medical bills after a solo rappelling/swing accident on June 8, 2022 at Looking Glass Rock in Moab, UT. The accident left me with an severe open fracture of my left femor. I have the deepest gratitude for all the people from Search and Rescue, Classic Air Care, the staff at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction, my surgeons, my family, friends, and neighbors who helped in my rescue, emergency medical care, and aftercare.

So, now here’s my story:

After finishing a the dramatic 130-foot rappel off the top of Looking Glass Rock, I decided to try the world-famous rope swing from the rappel anchors. I’ve done this swing alone more than a handful of times before, so I felt confident about my safety. I took a running start, and I missed my line: Instead of executing the beautiful swing out into the vast open space below the arch, I found myself helplessly spinning and arcing to the right. I realized (too late) that I didn’t double check the way I was setting up my take-off, because I was focused on making sure I had my phone ready to record the swing. As I was gaining speed towards the bottom of the 130-foot pendulum, I spun around to see I was heading full-speed into a boulder that was jutting out from the arch’s wall. In an instant, I collided with the boulder to hear a loud, terrible crack.

I lowered myself down my rope to sit on the steeply sloping and very loose, rocky sand. I looked down, and my leg was resting at a sickening angle with my knee and foot twisted in the wrong direction. Trying not to panic or succumb to the pain and shock, I pulled from my wilderness first responder education and began to assess my next steps.

I was able to gingerly put my leg back into place. (Side note: If you find yourself in a similar situation, DO NOT TRY THIS! It was the only possible solution to my dire situation.) I screamed for help, even though I knew there was no one for miles around to hear me. I knew I had to get myself out. I took a look around to assess my surroundings, and I saw my phone had landed on the hillside about 30 feet above me. I used my arms and pushed down so that I could nudge myself up the steep hill on my back side. With each inch I gained towards my phone, my leg would fall out of place, so I would stop to reset it. I made it about 20 feet until I reached a point where I would just slide back down and have to reset my leg. The last 10 feet to my phone was impossible for me to finish. I was exhausted and concerned about further injuring my leg with all the sliding. I still had my climbing rope with me, so I tied a knot at the end of it, and flung it up the slope in order to knock the phone the rest of the way down to me. After what felt like over a thousand attempts, I actually hit it! The phone came down half way, so I tossed the knotted rope end a hand full more times. Hit it, and then my phone was right next to me. I couldn’t believe it. When I picked up my phone, it was still recoding, so I stopped it. (It was not going to be fun watching that footage later.) I saw I had no service, but for some reason I still dialed 911. Incredibly the call went through with no cell reception, and the 911 dispatch had the first responders at my site close to an hour later. The Classic Air Care arrived in their helicopter about 40 minutes after, and flew me to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction.

There are a lot more details, and I’ll have the full story out soon.

I have always been a person who gives. Helping family, friends, neighbors with their needs. Now, I’m the one in need, and any amount will help. I’m on the long road to recovery, and my doctors and physical therapists are happy with my progress so far. I’m learning how to walk again, and I really look forward to the day I can return to my work as a Master Carpenter in the Roaring Fork Valley. Thank you so much for reading my story and for your generous donation. Every cent counts to me, and I could not do this without you.

Peace & Love,

Evan