FALLING ROCK

Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Mount John Laurie (Mount Yamnuska)

At the same time as they were searching for C.N. on Mount Brock on April 23, the conservation officers were called to a rescue on Mount Yamnuska about 1300. A climber was fixing a project, (climbing route) he was working on and a block fell and hit him. The rock knocked him off his stance. He hit the belay ledge eight feet below him and broke both his lower limbs in the ankle area. The hurt climber was able to call 911 on his cell phone. He then lowered himself down from the scree slope. He was slung out by helicopter. (Source: Burke Duncan)

Analysis

Spontaneous rockfall and hold failure is common in this area because of the nature of the rock in combination with the winter melt and freeze conditions. This is evident in the large scree slopes below the crag. For that reason it is imperative that climbers be alert for rockfall and holds be tested before fully weighting them.