Fall on Rock, Inexperience, Inadequate Equipment, Alberta, Rocky Mountains, Mount Fryatt

Publication Year: 1986.

FALL ON ROCK, INEXPERIENCE, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT

Alberta, Rocky Mountains, Mount Fryatt

On August 18, 1985, two men (35 and 15) left their high camp and climbed all day on the southwest face of Mt. Fryatt. They had only climbing boots and day packs for equipment. At 1730, the older climber reached the peak, while the other waited 100 meters below. On the return they decided to descend a snow and ice gully. Without ice axes, crampons, or rope, they stepped onto the slope and fell about 50 meters before stopping. The younger climber suffered a deep laceration in his left knee. The other one bandaged the wound to prevent blood loss, and they struggled back to camp with frequent short rests, arriving about an hour after sundown.

The following day, the uninjured climber walked out and reported the accident to the Warden Service at Jasper. A helicopter picked up the injured climber at 1630. (Source: Jasper Park Warden Service)

Analysis

The climbers’ objective was beyond their skill and experience level. They did not register or attempt to get route information from Park Offices. (Source: Jasper Park Warden Service)