Wyoming, Sherman Mountains—On October 16, Jim Burton (18), Floyd Young (18), Slyvan Brown (18), and Terry Richardson started to climb Piton Perch a rock climb of 200 vertical feet.

Three of the climbers ascended Piton Perch and the fourth climber stopped on a ledge 60 feet below the summit. The three climbers rappelled 60 feet to the same ledge to meet the fourth climber. All four rappelled from this ledge twenty feet to another ledge. The third and bottom rappel was then set up with a single sling around a nubbin of rock. Jim Burton was first man and when about five feet off the ledge the anchor sling became untied due to an improper knot and rubbing by a rock crystal. He fell free for 50 feet, hit a rounded ledge in a standing position and fell another fifteen feet onto an approximately 30° slope. The other three climbed down a chimney to where Jim lay. The ambulance was two hours in arriving because the driver had trouble with the route. Jim was then carried 300 yards to the ambulance through a heavy boulder field on a canvas stretcher. Due to the fracture of his back, this was highly inadequate. Injuries were: fractures of both os calses, left tibia, fourth lumbar vertebra and fracture in head of right femur as well as slight laceration of right knee.

Source: Raymond Jacquet, President, University of Wyoming Outing Club.

Outcome: Hospitalized October 16 to January 29. At this time he is near full recovery (June 1959).