FALL ON ROCK, CLIMBING UNROPED, INEXPERIENCE

Alberta, Rocky Mountains, Cascade Mountain

On August 19, 1981, T. W. was hiking to the Cascade Amphitheatre, a hanging valley which is passed on a scrambling route to the summit of Cascade Mountain. En route he happened to meet R. S. (27) who suggested that T. W. accompany him and he would show him a bit of actual climbing. R. S. led them into the Amphitheatre and up a gully into cliffs leading back toward the ridge trail. R. S. began climbing up a shallow gully of compact rock; about 50 meters above the rock, he came off and fell down to T. W.’s position. Fortunately, he hung up before falling over another vertical 30-meter drop. R. S. sustained a broken hip, possible internal injuries and broken teeth. (Source: T. Auger, Banff National Park)

Analysis

R. S. told T. W. that he had done some climbing, apparently enough to convince him to try a new route up an unfamiliar cliff without any gear. (Source: T. Auger, Banff National Park)