FALL ON ROCK, PROTECTION PULLED OUT

Alberta, Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Back of the Lake Crag, Scared Peaches

On October 19, D.W. (24) was leading Scared Peaches, a 5.12a mixed-gear route on the Air Voyage Wall at the Back of the Lake Crag area in Lake Louise. He was several meters above the last protection that he had placed when he fell. The gear pulled and the result was a eight meter lead fall into a large boulder.

D.W. suffered a deep gash to the outside of his left thigh and was in considerable pain. His partner lowered him to the ground and one of the party ran down to report the incident. A team of warden rescuers packaged D.W. on site and he was moved with the help of the climbers in the area to a nearby open place where he could be evacuated by heli-sling to the waiting ambulance.

Analysis

It is unknown what type of gear D.W. had placed. Gear placements in the hard quartzite rock found at the Back of the Lake are normally quite good. Where natural gear is not possible, most routes have bolts. (Source: Parks Canada Warden Service, Bradford White)