Reported Mountaineering Accidents, Miscellaneous Information (Numbers Refer to Number of Persons Involved), Table III
Miscellaneous Information Numbers Refer to Number of Persons Involved
1951–63
U.S.
1959–63
CAN.
U.S.
1964
CAN.
Terrain
Rock
424
12
41
12
Snow
235
24
21
2
River
2
0
1
0
Unknown
0
0
0
0
Ascent or Descent
(River crossing not included)
Ascent
307
22
39
6
Descent
307
13
22
8
Unknown
46
1
2
0
Immediate Cause
Fall or slip on rock
241
7
22
4
Failure of piton
13
1
5
0
Falling rock or object
64
4
4
3
Failure of rappel
34
0
5
1
Slip on snow or ice
97
10
6
0
Fall into crevasse
14
4
4
0
Loss of control in voluntary glissade
33
2
3
1
Avalanche
50
7
4
0
Lightning
16
0
3
3
Stuck rope
5
0
0
0
Skiing
2
0
0
0
Faulty use of crampon
5
0
0
0
Fall in river
2
0
0
0
Exposure and/or exhaustion
41
1
0
0
Heat prostration
2
0
0
0
Illness, medical
5
0
0
1
Exceeding abilities
(inexperience)
15
0
1
0
Miscellaneous (incl. frostbite)
22
0
6
1
Contributory Causes
Climbing unroped
169
8
20
1
Climbing alone
48
3
2
1
Attempt to exceed abilities (inexperience)
101
8
10
2
Darkness
8
0
2
0
Inadequate equipment
35
0
1
0
Old rope
3
0
1
0
Piton failure
13
1
0
0
Bad weather
11
0
4
5
Exposure and/or exhaustion
10
3
0
0
1951-63
U.S.
1959-63
CAN.
U.S.
1964
CAN.
Party separated
12
0
0
0
Age of Individuals
Boys
6
0
0
0
Under 15
22
0
2
1
15-20 years
219
7
20
5
“Young or college age”
12
1
0
0
21-25
140
3
21
1
26-30
65
8
7
3
31-35
49
1
4
O'
Over 35
65
9
7
0
Unknown
63
7
2
4
Unaffiliated with climbing groups
Unaffiliated
173
8
17
1
Not stated
221
2
20
3
Member of mountaineering club
267
26
26
10
Estimate of experience
None or little
332
14
23
4
Moderate
175
12
15
4
Experienced
75
9
17
4
Unknown
78
1
8
2
Month of year
January
14
1
2
0
February
35
0
5
1
March
25
0
1
0
April
38
1
2
0
May
53
0
7
0
June
71
2
7
0
July
150
19
12
10
August
120
12
10
2
September
62
1
8
0
October
29
0
6
0
November
35
0
1
0
December
16
0
2
0
Not specified
2
0
0
1