Northern Cascades, Washington: (2) Snoqualmie Pass District. On 14 September 1947 a girl fell from Guye Peak while she was descending unroped, in the dark. She was seriously injured. She had done no previous climbing, and the two others in the party had only slight experience. Apparently they left the pass rather late, were caught on the summit after dark, and descended by night instead of waiting for daybreak. They were not members of the Mountaineers.

Source of information: The Mountaineers, Seattle, Washington.

Analysis. Such a late start violated one of the fundamentals of mountain safety, and to continue on over steep terrain unroped and in the dark was a doubly serious error in judgment. Whether or not accidents of this kind can be effectively minimized by a system of registration at Ranger Stations, or by the placing of signs on trails, is a matter to be considered carefully. (See later recommendations.)