FALL ON SNOW, WEATHER, EXCEEDING ABILITIES, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT

Washington, Snoqualmie, Silver Peak

On June 17, this accident occurred while a party of 11 “Alpine Scramblers” were descending Silver Peak. Lori Levin (30) reported the following:

The leader and the group were in a hurry to get home due to fog and rain. The snow was especially icy and slippery. I tried to keep up and overstepped a hill and fell (45 meters) into a tree off a cliff. My ice ax slipped out of my hand so I could not selfarrest. I screamed and fell. A half hour later I was rescued and walked out OK after rescue help. (Source: Lori Levine)

Analysis

I will always secure my ice ax with a wrist loop and I will never go on a trip when I am exhausted from a stressful week. The conditions of bad weather, being inexperienced and afraid helped make the trip difficult. I won’t go on advanced trips when I am a beginner. I won’t climb if I’ve had a bad week, and I will only do easy scrambles. (Source: Lori Levin)