Geographical Districts, Accidents, Table II

Publication Year: 1960.

Geographical Districts

Accidents

1947–1958

1959



Atlantic States—North 

29

7



South 

4

0



Central 

2

0



Colorado

53

6



Utah & New Mexico

8

2



Wyoming

40

7



South Dakota

0

1



Montana & Idaho

8

1



Arizona & Nevada

5

1



California

52

3



Oregon

28

2



Washington

66

7



Alaska

5

0



Practice Cliffs—All areas

19

1



Terrain







Rock

207

28



Snow

99

9



River 

1

0



Unknown 

6

0



Ascent or Descent (River crossing not included)







Ascent 

126

25



Descent

147

12



Unknown

37

0



Immediate Cause







Fall or Slip on Rock

103

17



Loose Rock (Handhold Pulled Out) 

20

3



Failure of Piton

2

4



Falling Rock

32

6



Failure of Rappel

23

1



Slip on Snow or Ice

47

5



Fall into Crevasse

10

0



Loss of Control in Voluntary Glissade

20

1



Avalanche

9

1



Lightning

5

0



Failure to Follow Route

4

1



Stuck Rope

2

1



Skiing

1

0



Crampon pierced clothing and/or ripped by

3

0



Fall in River

1

0



Unsafe Campsite

1

0



Exposure and/or Exhaustion 

7

2



Heat Prostration

1

0



Illness, Medical 

2

0



Unknown

16

0



Accidents



1947-58

1959



Contributory Causes







Climbing Unroped

81

8



Climbing Alone

27

2



Attempt to Exceed Abilities (Inexperienced)

40

7



Darkness

8

0



Inadequate Equipment

10

1



Old Rope 

8

0



Size of Party







One 

28

1



Two

75

17



Three

76

3



Four 

37

5



Five

17

4



Six or more

52

7



Unknown 

38

0



Age of Individuals







Under 15 

8

2



15-20 years

113

14



“Young or College Age”

41

1



21-25

75

13



26-30 

38

1



31-35

28

2



Over 35

24

7



Unknown

24

1



Unaffiliated with Climbing Group







Unaffiliated

81

10



Not Stated

102

3



Member of Mountaineering Club

133

24



Estimate of Experience







None or Little

131

13



Moderate

72

14



Experienced 

48

12



Unknown 

63

0



Month of Year







January 

6

1



February

11

1



March 

6

3



April 

16

1



May

20

6



June

23

5



July

49

3



August

57

11



September

34

2



October

14

1



November

8

2



December 

4

1