FALL ON WATERFALL ICE, UNROPED, EXCEEDING ARILITIES, HASTE

Alberta, Rocky Mountains, Mount Rundle, Professors Gully

A group of experienced climbers had finished the first pitch of the Professors Falls, a popular waterfall route near Banff. The climb consists of a series of short, steep pitches with wide, flat shelves in between. One climber began the second pitch solo and fell off. His lower right leg was broken during the fall. (Source: Banff National Park Warden Service)

Analysis

The victim (44) was eager to get moving, and the pitch looked reasonable to solo, but he was a little “rusty” and both his hand tools pulled out of the ice when he was about four or five meters up. A crampon caught in the ice during his fall, and the resulting twist caused his injury. (Source: Banff National Park Warden Service)