FALLING ROCK – PULLED OFF BY LEAD CLIMBER

British Columbia, Bugaboos Provincial Park, Snowpatch Spire

On August 15, a climber was climbing the last pitch of Sunshine Crack (IV 5.10+) on Snowpatch Spire. The lead climber pulled off a rock about twice the size of his torso, which hit the belayer on his lower back. The climbers self-evacuated themselves to the Conrad Kain hut, even though the injured climber was having difficulty maintaining consciousness on the rappels. Columbia Valley Search and Rescue evacuated the climber. (Source: Tay Hanson, Senior Park Ranger)