Fall on Rock, Inadequate Belay, Inadequate Protection
Montana, Gallatin Canyon, Gallatin Tower
On September 18, Jacob van Almelo (25) was climbing the route Tigger (5.10a/b)
when he fell at the crux move. His 30-foot fall resulted in several injuries. His
belayer did not catch the fall, but protection pulling out may also have had
something to do with the length of the fall.
The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Big Sky Fire Department, and Gallatin
County Search and Rescue responded to the scene. Members of the Big Sky Fire
Department hiked in and stabilized the climber until members of the Gallatin
County Search and Rescue arrived.
Van Almelo reportedly sustained a minor laceration on his head and possible
fractures on his lower legs. He was immobilized and transported by ambulance to
Bozeman Deaconess Hospital by the Big Sky Fire Department. (Source: Edited
from a posting on the website of KSLF.com, Bozeman News, on September 19,
2012.)
(Editor’s note: Although the details are sparse, it is interesting to see a posting from
a climbing area that rarely makes it into this publication.)