Fall on Rock – Protection Pulled Out

Wisconsin, Devils Lake State Park
Climb Year: N/A. Publication Year: 2009.

In late May, a rock climber was rescued after falling about 40 feet. The 20-year-old man was taken by helicopter to University Hospital in Madison after he was stabilized by first-responders from Baraboo.

Authorities say the man and his girlfriend were climbing in an area above a trail Monday evening when he fell and suffered broken bones and other injuries.

Baraboo Ambulance Assistant Chief Kristine Snow said the accident is the first at Devil’s Lake this year. Last year, ambulance workers were called to the park 18 times for rock-climbing injuries. (Source: From an article in the Baraboo News Republic)

(Editor's Note: We have not been able to get incident data or narratives from Devil’s Lake State Park in many years. It is obvious that there is a lot of climbing activity there with the number of responses needed. Our experience from the past tells us, however.; that many—at least half—of the climbing-related callouts happen to individuals who were just scrambling about with no intention of climbing or being in a climbing situation.)