FALL ON ROCK, CLIMBING UNROPED, INEXPERIENCE, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT

Alberta, Rocky Mountains, Vimy Mountain

On July 30, 1982, three young men were climbing the face of Vimy Mountain. They were unroped and poorly equipped and dressed. One man slipped and fell approximately 30 feet down a waterfall. He suffered a broken ankle and severe cuts. The members of the party came off the mountain under their own power. (Source: M. Winkler, Waterton Lakes National Park)

Analysis

The party was inexperienced and two of the members lacked good mountaineering boots. Their inability to select a route suitable to their experience was no doubt a contributing factor. This is an example of how scrambling can turn into climbing. Whether the party set out to climb or not isn’t known. (Source: M. Winkler, Waterton Lakes National Park)