Colorado, North Cheyenne Canyon—On November 28, Roger E. Ross (18), Lawrence L. Beckner (17) and Edward Rhodes (17) went from Colorado Springs to the nearby cliffs of Cheyenne Canyon. The area is used by Ft. Carson soldiers for mountaineering practice. Rhodes was unable to make the ascent. Ross and Beckner were climbing upward when Ross lost his balance and fell between 60 and 100 ft. to the base of the cliff and then rolled another 200 feet to the base of the canyon wall. Beckner also fell about 20 feet to a narrow ledge and suffered a broken right ankle and a sprained left ankle. Ross was killed outright.

The newspaper source states that the three had seen a movie about mountain climbing at a local theatre several days prior to their climb. The film had prompted them to try the climb, according to Beckner.

Source: Denver Post (William E. Davis, Safety Chairman, Colorado Mountaineering Club).