Colorado, Jefferson County—Coal Creek Canyon—On 2 Sept., H. T. Carlson (17), Bill Steele (19) and Jerry Kahler (17) were climbing a steep cliff near the highway in leather soled shoes. They had no equipment and no experience in technical climbing, but had climbed the cliff before. Carlson slipped and fell about fifty feet over mixed 45 degree slopes and vertical slabs. His companions climbed down and called authorities. The Coal Creek Fire Department and the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group responded. Carlson was lowered in a Stokes Litter over steep talus to the highway. He suffered a compound fracture of the elbow and a fractured wrist.

Source: David Lewis.

Analysis: This was an inexperienced and inadequately equipped group.