Fall on Rock, Inadequate Belay, Inadequate Protection

Montana, Gallatin Canyon, Gallatin Tower
Climb Year: 2012. Publication Year: 2013.

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.)