Regional Safety Activities

Publication Year: 1955.

Geographical Distribution of Accidents:

1947-1953

1954



Atlantic States—North 

11

3



South

1

0



Colorado

29

3



Utah

4

0



Wyoming

16

3



Montana & Idaho

3

3



Arizona & New Mexico

4

1



California

18

5



Oregon

14

3



Washington

14

6



Alaska

1

3



Practice Cliffs All Areas

4

2



Terrain







Rock

83

16



Snow

36

14



River

1

0



Unknown

6

0



Ascent or Descent (River crossing not included here)







Ascent

43

7



Descent

52

22



Unknown

30

1



Immediate Cause







Fall or Slip on Rock

46

9



Loose Rock (handhold pulled out)

10

1



Falling Rock

11

3



Failure of Rappel

8

3



Slip on Snow or Ice

21

7



Fall into Crevasse

5

1



Loss of Control in Voluntary Glissade

5

3



Avalanche

3

2



Lightning

2

0



Failure to Follow Route

1

0



Stuck Rope

1

0



Skiing

1

0



Fall in River

1

0



Unsafe Campsite 

0

1



Unknown 

10

0



Contributory Causes







Climbing Unroped 

41

2



Climbing Alone

13

2



Attempt to Exceed Abilities

14

4



Darkness

4

3



Inadequate Equipment

1

0



Old Rope

5

0



Size of Party







One

13

3



Two

32

10



Three

32

9



Four

10

4



Five

5

0



Six or More

23

1



Unknown

21

3



Ages of Individuals







Under 15 

1

2



15-20 years

43

8



“Young or College Age”

32

I



21-25

22

7



26-30

8

3



31-35

6

2



Over 35 

6

5



Unknown 

9

2



Affiliated with Climbing Group







Unaffiliated 

43

5



Not Stated

36

16



Member of Mountaineering Club

42

9



Estimate of Experience







None or Little

58

15



Moderate

14

9



Experienced 

22

5



Unknown 

26

1



Month of Year

1952-1953

1954



January

1

1



February

1

1



March

0

0



April

4

4



May

5

2



June

0

4



July

17

3



August

8

9



September

7

5



October

5

2



November

2

0



December 

0

0