Geographical Districts

Accidents



Canada

1959

1960



Alberta

2

0



British Columbia

0

2





Accidents



United States

1947-1959

1960



Atlantic States—North

36

3



South

4

0



Central

2

0



Colorado 

65

10



Utah & New Mexico

10

0



Wyoming

47

8



South Dakota

1

0



Montana & Idaho 

9

0



Arizona & Nevada

6

0



California 

55

10



Oregon 

30

1



Washington

73

10



Alaska 

5

2



Hawaii

—

1



Practice Cliffs—All Areas

20

0



Terrain







Rock

242

38



Snow

109

14



River 

1

0



Unknown

6

0



Ascent or Descent (River crossing not included)







Ascent 

156

22



Descent

162

24



Unknown

37

1



Immediate Cause







Fall or Slip on Rock

126

18



Loose Rock (Handhold Pulled Out)

23

0



Failure of Piton

7

1



Falling Rock

38

3



Failure of Rappel 

25

2



Slip on Snow or Ice

52

7



Fall into Crevasse 

11

1



Loss of Control in Voluntary Glissade 

21

1



Avalanche

10

3



Lightning

5

1



Failure to Follow Route

5

0



Stuck Rope

3

0



Skiing

1

1



Crampon pierced clothing and/or ripped by

3

0



Fall in River

1

0



Unsafe Campsite 

1

0



Exposure and/or Exhaustion

9

3



Heat Prostration

1

0



Illness, Medical 

2

3



Exceeding Abilities (inexperience) 

–

4



Unkown

16

0





Accidents



Contributory Causes

1947-1959

1960



Climbing Unroped

91

12



Climbing Alone 

30

2



Attempt to Exceed Abilities (Inexperience)

48

7



Darkness

8

0



Inadequate Equipment

11

4



Old Rope

8

0



Size of Party







One

29

1



Two

93

27



Three 

79

7



Four 

45

10



Five

22

3



Six or more

60

8



Unknown

40

1



Age of Individual







Under 15

11

2



15-20 years

131

14



“Young or College Age”

42

2



21-25

88

13



26-30 

40

7



31-35

30

10



Over 35 

31

6



Unknown 

27

3



Unaffiliated with Climbing Groups







Unaffiliated

94

22



Not Stated 

109

9



Member of Mountaineering Club

158

17



Estimate of Experience







None or Little

147

17



Moderate

86

16



Experienced 

61

10



Unknown

67

4



Month of Year







January 

7

0



February 

12

4



March 

9

2



April 

17

2



May

27

3



June

29

3



July

55

8



August

69

9



September

37

6



October

15

0



November

11

8



December 

5

2