LOSS OF CONTROL-VOLUNTARY GLISSADE, FAULTY USE OF CRAMPONS

Washington, Mount Adams

On June 24, a climber (38), who had summited Mount Adams alone, was descending wearing crampons when the points on the right crampon “caught” his left leg, causing him to fall and resulting in a broken ankle.

He was assisted down by a group of climbers until Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit evacuated him on a Cascade litter. It involved multiple lowers. A lengthy transport by a wheel litter brought him to the road head, where two “Good Samaritans” transported him to Seattle. Klickitat Search and Rescue and Central Mountain Rescue assisted. (Source: Berndt Bittlingmeier, TMRU)

Analysis

Once again we have a climber who makes the wrong decision: glissading with crampons. (Source: Jed Williamson)