Accident Reports ANAM
FAILURE TO CLIP INTO AUTO-BELAY North Carolina, Asheville

“I feel very lucky to be alive and not paralyzed.” On December 14, Adam Herzog (43) suffered severe head trauma, 15 fractures, spinal injury, and other trauma after failing to clip into an auto-belay in a climbing gym. Upon finishing the climb, he...

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| Published 2022 | Author Adam Herzog


Accident Reports ANAM
STRANDED — Dehydration North Carolina, Pisgah National Forest, Linville Gorge Wilderness, The Amphitheater

In the late afternoon of July 8, a male climber (42) free soloing Good Heavens (5 pitches, 5.5) called 911 to report that he was on a ledge near the top of the route and did not feel he could complete the climb after becoming weak from dehydration...

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| Published 2022 | Author James Robinson, Burke County Search and Rescue


Accident Reports ANAM
FALL ON ROCK — Stranded, Unprepared for Cold North Carolina, Pisgah National Forest, Linville Gorge Wilderness, Table Rock

At approximately 6 p.m. on December 21, Burke County Emergency Dispatch received a cell phone call from a male climber (MC) on Table Rock Mountain. The caller stated that he was at the top of My Route (2 pitches, 5.6), located at the north end of ...

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| Published 2022 | Author Nick Massey, Burke County Search and Rescue


Accident Reports ANAM
STRANDED — Unfamiliar with Terrain, Darkness North Carollina, Pisgah National Forest, Linville Gorge Wilderness, Table Rock

At approximately 10:45 p.m. on June 23, Burke County 911 received a call from a climber stating that there were three uninjured male climbers stranded on a ledge on the east face of Table Rock. The trio had climbed several pitches up Jim Dandy (3 ...

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| Published 2022 | Author James Robinson, Burke County Search and Rescue and The Editors


Accident Reports ANAM
LEADER FALL — Protection Pulled Out North Carolina, Pisgah National Forest, Looking Glass Rock, Sun Wall

On Tuesday, June 26, my partner, Graham P., and I got an early start on The Odyssey (5 pitches, 5.11-). I started the first pitch and eventually pulled on a piece of gear through the lower crux. I passed a feature called the Sharks Fin, which is t...

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| Published 2022 | Author Taylor Fields and Graham P


Accident Reports ANAM
FALL ON ROCK — Inadequate Protection New York, Shawangunks, Mohonk Preserve

On October 23, a 27-year-old climber with three years of experience was leading the third and last pitch of Middle Earth (5.6). After completing the crux roof, the climber fell approximately 55 feet. They impacted the wall several times until thei...

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| Published 2022 | Author Mohonk Preserve Rangers, Dan Cassidy and Andrew Bajardi, Chief Ranger


Accident Reports ANAM
RAPPEL FAILURE — Unclipped from Device New York, Shawangunks, Trapps Area

On June 3, at approximately 5 p.m., a leader (male) and follower (female), both in their late 20s or early 30s, climbed the two-pitch Easy O (5.2 trad). They intended to descend via the two-bolt rappel anchor at the top of Son of Easy O (5.8). A s...

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| Published 2022 | Author Greg van Inwegen


Accident Reports ANAM
SHAWANGUNKS ANNUAL SUMMARY New York, Mohonk Preserve

In 2022, there were 13 reported climbing-related accidents on the Mohonk Preserve. These included eight leader accidents, three bouldering accidents, and one lowering incident. Recorded injuries included three head/facial injuries, one shoulder in...

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| Published 2022 | Author Mohonk Preserve Rangers, Dan Cassidy and Andrew Bajardi, Chief Ranger


Accident Reports ANAM
FATALITY — Probable Fall on Ice, Climbing Alone New York, Adirondacks, Mt. Colden

On March 16, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) dispatch center received a report that a family member had not returned from a climbing trip to the High Peaks of the Adirondacks. Forest rangers checked the trailhead ...

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| Published 2022 | Author N.Y. State Dept. of Environmental Conservation and The Editors


Accident Reports ANAM
STRANDED — Stuck Rappel Ropes New York, Adirondacks, Moss Cliff

At 6:30 p.m. on October 16, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) rangers received a call from two climbers who were stranded on Moss Cliff in Wilmington Notch, within Adirondack State Park. Moss Cliff is a 400-plus-foo...

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| Published 2022 | Author Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers and The Editors


Accident Reports ANAM
GROUND FALL — Leader Significantly Heavier than Belayer New Mexico, Socorro Box Canyon

This incident occurred at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, at the Socorro Box Recreation Area during a rock-climbing program with a group of novices. It was the last day of a three-day trip sequence. Climber 1 (32) and Belayer (27) attempted...

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| Published 2022 | Author Christian Sommer and The Editors


Accident Reports ANAM
FALL WHILE RAPPELLING New Hampshire, Whitehorse Ledge, Beginner's Easy Variation

On July 9, Jeff (male, 60) and his wife, Pam, were climbing Beginner’s Easy Variation (8 pitches, 5.3 R) on the slabs of Whitehorse Ledge. Another climbing party of Damon (male), his father Graham (77), and son Taylor (8) were climbing nearby on t...

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| Published 2022 | Author Damon Clark and Jeff


Accident Reports ANAM
STRANDED — Off Route New Hampshire, Cannon Cliff

On Saturday, June 25, WD (male, 28) and GT (male, 27) were climbing Moby Grape (7 pitches, 5.8 PG-13). They got off route near the top of the climb when attempting to bypass a slab section. After an unsuccessful attempt to self-rescue, the party c...

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| Published 2022 | Author Officer James Cyrs, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department


Accident Reports ANAM
FATAL FALL ON ROCK Montana, Glacier National Park, Mt. Brown

On June 7, a 19-year-old Columbia Falls man died following a climbing accident on Mt. Brown in Glacier National Park. Park officials received a call around 3:00 p.m. regarding a missing person. Two individuals planned to hike and climb Mt. Brown. ...

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| Published 2022 | Author National Park Service


Accident Reports ANAM
FATAL RAPPEL ANCHOR FAILURE Montana, Glacier National Park, Dusty Star Mountain

The east face of Dusty Star with the new route marked (red) and Jack Beard in the foreground. This picture was taken by Brian Kennedy the day before the pair’s fatal rappel accident.  On July 24, two climbers were reported overdue to the Nati...

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| Published 2022 | Author Adam Clark and National Park Services


Accident Reports ANAM
BOULDERING FALL — Missed Pad Michigan, Keweenaw Peninsula, Cliff Drive

On October 28, Patrick Marx (18) fell while climbing Big Ass Flake (V2) on the secluded basalt outcroppings along Cliff Drive. He wrote ANAC, “I was 15 to 18 feet off the ground and I dropped and missed my crash pad. I had a spotter who prevented ...

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| Published 2022 | Author Patrick Marx


Accident Reports ANAM
GROUND FALL — Lowering Error Colorado, Staunton State Park

On September 17, Climber 1 (female, 28) was being lowered by Climber 2 (male, 27) when she was dropped at least four or five feet to the ground. Climber 1 wrote, “We weren’t sure if our rope would be long enough, so my buddy climbed first while I...

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| Published 2022 | Author Climber 1 and The Editors


Accident Reports ANAM
FATAL FALL WHILE DOWNCLIMBING Colorado, Clear Creek Canyon, Secret Waterfall

On January 19, Tucker Rowan (24) had finished a top-rope solo of Secret Waterfall (110’, WI3) and was attempting to downclimb the loose, rock gully on the climber’s right side of the flow when he slipped. The 60 to 70-foot fall from near the top o...

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| Published 2022 | Author Sam Sala


Accident Reports ANAM
FATAL FALL ON THIRD-CLASS TERRAIN Colorado, Eldorado Canyon State Park, The Bastille

On March 3, Thad Friday (48) fell while descending from the Bastille in Eldorado Canyon. He was an exceptionally experienced climber with big-wall free enchainments, big-wall aid solos in Yosemite, and first ascents in Greenland to his credit. On ...

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| Published 2022 | Author Climbing.com, Eric Doub and Pete Takeda


Accident Reports ANAM
FALL ON ROCK — Protection Pulled Out Colorado, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Redgarden Wall

On April 2, “Andrew” (31) and “Jordan” (28) were climbing a link-up of several difficult routes, as training for an upcoming trip to Patagonia. Andrew fell while climbing the third pitch of the day. Andrew wrote to ANAC, “I led the first pitch of...

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| Published 2022 | Author Andrew and Jordan