SLIP ON ROCK, FALLING ROCK

British Columbia, Purcell Mountains, Bugaboo Glacier Provincial Park

On July 28,1986, a party of three was returning to the Conrad Kain hut after climbing in the afternoon. At 1630, about five minutes above the hut, they were descending an easy but wet rock gully. Two of them were down out of the gully, and looked back to see the other (27), only three meters or so away, slip on a rock. The fall caused the rock to loosen, and as a result other rocks higher up loosened as well. Two large (roughly one meter) rocks rolled over her.

A helicopter was called immediately, and also a stretcher was taken up from the hut. CPR was attempted, and the victim was flown to Invermere Hospital. However, the injuries proved to be fatal. (Source: J. Timmins, Bugaboo Glacier Provincial Park)

Analysis

The accident might have been avoided by taking a different route. However, this route had been used many times before without incident. (Source: J. Timmins, Bugaboo Glacier Provincial Park)