FALL ON SNOW, INEXPERIENCE, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT, FAILURE TO FOLLOW ROUTE

Wyoming, Tetons

On July 26, 1981, Keith Walton (27), a relatively inexperienced climber, made a solo ascent of the Southwest Couloir on the Middle Teton. Descending the same route, Walton lost his way. He had descended about one third of the distance from the summit to the saddle before he realized that he had strayed to the east. He decided to work his way west instead of retracing his steps to the regular route. While downclimbing a rock rib, he attempted a short jump into a snow gully, lost his footing on the hard snow at the edge of the gully and began somersaulting. His fall carried him over a small section of scree and into a second patch of snow. He came to rest in a collection of rocks at the bottom of the gully. He sustained a deep two-inch laceration below his right knee. Walton estimated his fall at 100 feet.

He wrapped the wound with a bandana and without further complications made his way into the south fork of Garnet Canyon. He met Karen Noar near his campsite which was 30 minutes above the meadows. Noar properly bandaged the leg and, with two friends, Rick and Carolyn Wallen, helped Walton break camp and assisted him to the meadows. The

Wallens returned to the valley with Walton and gave him a ride to St. John’s Hospital. (Source: John Carr, Grand Teton National Park)

Analysis

Walton was climbing in lightweight hiking shoes and was not carrying an ice ax. He also sustained scratches on his right hip and leg as a result of wearing shorts. (Source: John Carr, Grand Teton National Park)