Washington, Near Mt. Stuart—On September 5, 1955 David Martin (19) and his brother (17) along with Fred Facer (41) were returning to base camp from a climb on Mt. Stuart. They had backpacked to their base camp two days earlier, climbed to the summit ridge of Mt. Stuart, two miles away, on the previous day, and bivouacked the previous night at Ingalls Lake.

As one of the climbers climbed up a 40-foot ravine to reconnoiter the route, the other two took cover from the loose rocks which were knocked down. Near the top of the gulley, a large slab, two feet by three and one-half feet and nine inches thick, began to slide near the climber. The slab tipped and rolled, careening from wall to wall of the ravine, and seemed to be heading for the two at the bottom in their shelter. They both moved into the open and the slab hit David Martin in the right heel, tearing open the back of his boot and injuring his heel. He was rescued by Coast Guard helicopter twelve hours later and he reached a doctor the day of the accident.

Source: Report by Fred Facer, and report by U. S. Forest Ranger, Donald E. Allen; Vic Josendal.

Analysis: Rockfall, started by climber.