Connecticut—Sleeping Giant State Park: On July 25, 1953, Thomas Beck (16) and Terrance Lockavitch (16) were climbing up the face of an

abandoned quarry on Mt. Carmel. When they were 15 to 20 feet from the top Lockavitch felt they should not continue, so he started down. Beck continued on up and fell to his death. Beck’s fall was unobserved so the exact cause is not known. The rock in the quarry is rotten so it is presumed that this was the cause of the accident.

Source: Police Department, Hamden, Connecticut. David Harrah, Yale Mountaineering Club.

Analysis: Inexperienced climbers exceeding their ability.