Fall on Rock, No Hard Hat, New Hampshire, Cathedral Ledges

Publication Year: 1991.

FALL ON ROCK, NO HARD HAT

New Hampshire, Cathedral Ledges

On May 9, two climbers were going up Standard on Cathedral when the leader fell from Cave Wall about 1700. He suffered a concussion and felt lower back pain. The New Hampshire Mountain Rescue Service did the carryout. (Source: George Hurley, Mountain Guides Alliance)

Analysis

There have been several accidents at the Cave Wall, one other this summer. The route is graded 5.6 but it’s hard for the grade and the crux (the Cave Wall) is impossible to protect well. A .5 Tricam will fit in an old piton hole but it is marginal as protection. The other option is to avoid the wall by climbing as deep in the chimney as possible, placing pro in the chock stones. (Source: George Hurley, Mountain Guides Alliance)