Moderate ground, like this class 3 section on the approach to the Bihedral’s Upper Tier in Boulder Canyon, can cause serious accidents. In October 2025, a climber stumbed, fell, and broke his back. Photo: Anonymous On October 11, our party of...
On August 8, Person 1 (35) and Person 2 (34) met for a quick morning of climbing in Eldorado Canyon. Short on time, they settled on a link-up of the first pitch of March of Dimes (5.9), the second pitch of Werk Supp (5.9), and then the third pitch...
On November 2, Greg Cameron (69) and Dean Brubaker were climbing on the West Ridge formation in Eldorado Canyon . They warmed up on Xanadu (5.10a), and then started up the classic Chockstone (3 pitches, 5.10a). Brubaker led the first pitch, and th...
The Redgarden Wall in Eldorado Canyon, Colorado. Greenspur climbs the face of the prominent spur in the upper left of this photo, left of the pointed summit. Photo Carol Highsmith On May 13, my partner Shawn Wall (31) and I (Daniel Kay, 32) a...
On March 23 just past 3 p.m., my friend Marc and I (Sarah Zubrin) were heading down the trail from the Riviera area in Boulder Canyon after a day of climbing with a larger group comprised of four total adults—including Marc and me—and two younger ...
In February 2025, an ice dam broke near the top of Sherman Climb and triggered an avalanche. The yellow X indicates the site of the breakage and subsequent avalanche. Photo: Matt Toensing On February 13, my belayer Cameron Reade and I (Ryan L...
This photo shows the close proximity of an adjacent rock to the overhanging arête of The Hipster (5.12a). On May 2, a climber fell while clipping the fourth bolt (middle of red circle). He hit the slab behind him (red X). Photo: Geoff Salter ...
In this photo taken by Nick Ridley, we see a demonstration of the self-lower system used by guide Rick Karden when he fell to his death on July 29. Note here that Ridley has used a stopper knot (visibly jammed against his Grigri). Karden chose n...
On April 6, first responders from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado River Fire Rescue, Garfield County Search and Rescue, and CareFlight were dispatched to Main Elk Canyon on County Road 243 near New Castle for a report of a fallen cl...
Seen here, an incomplete follow-through figure-8 knot led to a lowering fatality in East Elk Canyon on the Western Slope of Colorado. Photo: Garfield County Sheriff's Office and Coroner On May 31, first responders from CareFlight, the Garfiel...
On April 10, Marcel Such had a close call while rappelling off Psycho Tower in the Dolores River Canyon. The yellow X marks where he grabbed the tail of his rappel rope in order to stop his fall. Photo: Marcel Such In all honesty, this should...
Ultar Sar (7,388m) with its southeast pillar facing the camera, seen from the approach. The line was nicknamed the Hidden Pillar because you can’t see the whole route until you’re standing beneath it. Photo by Ethan Berman The snow broke like...
On June 2, the 14,200-foot ranger camp on Denali received a radio report from a guide at the 11,200-foot camp that Alex Chiu (41), a ski mountaineer, had fallen from the area of Squirrel Point (12,000 feet) toward the Peters Glacier and was missin...
On November 15, Adam and Sarah (not their real names) were visiting Joshua Tree for the first time and decided to climb Leave It to Beaver (5.12a), a classic overhanging trad route about 70 feet in length. Adam opted to lead the climb onsight. He ...
In November 2025, a climber fell and pulled several pieces before hitting the ground. The blue X marks where he fell and blue arrow shows the path of his fall. Photo: Mark Ritterpusch On November 10, I attempted Coarse and Buggy (5.11a/b) at ...
The East Buttress of Mt. Whitney is a classic alpine rock route to the highest point in the Lower 48. It was the scene of an off-route incident that contributed to one climber suffering a broken finger (red arrow marks where that happened). The ...
On November 11, Joseph Brambila (21) summited Mt. Whitney via the Main Trail and descended safely to Trail Crest (13,625 feet). It was his fifth attempt and first successful summit since June 2025. There he met Luis Buenrostro, a solo hiker and on...
Typical icy shoulder-season conditions on the 99 Switchbacks. In October 2025, such conditions caused the fatal fall of a 29-year-old climber, who fell from a steep section here. Photo: Brandon Riza On October 25, Paul Jonathan Ortiz Jr. (29)...
On June 14, I (Meghan Crowley, 40) and my partner Jim Smith (50) had an accident on Smegmathon (5 pitches, 5.10c). We came in from the top via three full rappels on a doubled 70m rope. Our plan was that Jim would lead all the pitches, and then we’...
On October 1, Balin Miller fell when he rappelled off the end of his rope near the top of Sea of Dreams (VI, A4+). The spot is marked with a red circle. Photo: Jarek Tuszynski On October 1, Balin Miller (23) fell 2,400 feet to his death while...