Regional Safety Activities
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