Olympics, Washington: (1) Mt. Anderson. On 4 September 1948 a party of five, including Ronald Nece (21), hiked into the Olympics from the Dosewallips Ranger Station to the Anderson Pass shelter. On the 5th the party crossed Anderson Glacier and Flypaper Pass, to approach Mt. Anderson. Observing the time, the party decided that it would be unwise to attempt the ascent and therefore returned over Flypaper Pass, at about 3.00 P.M. Nece and McMillan descended by the snow finger, while the other three descended by the rocks. Nece had gone down only about ten feet when he realized that he was in a dangerous spot. Attempting to retrace his steps, he lost his footing and slid about 100 feet down the snow and off into the 20-foot crevasse between the snow finger and the rocks. He suffered severe lacerations and a broken kneecap. Two of the party remained with him, and the other two set out for help. A rescue party was formed, and the rescue was safely effected on the 6th.

Source of information: newspaper accounts.

Analysis. This accident appears to have been the result of a temporary lapse in the judgment of one man’s capacity, and of inability to correct the error soon enough. The party as a whole certainly had shown good judgment in postponing their climb.