Reported Mountaineering Accidents, Table III
Miscellaneous Information Numbers Refer to Number of Persons Involved.
1951-60
1959-60
1961
U.S.
CAN.
U.S.
CAN.
Terrain
Rock
261
1
33
2
Snow
173
12
18
10
River
1
0
0
0
Unknown
0
0
0
0
Ascent or Descent
(River crossing not included)
Ascent
190
6
22
9
Descent
214
7
24
2
Unknown
30
0
5
1
Immediate Cause
Fall or slip on rock
156
1
19
2
Failure of Piton
3
0
1
0
Falling Rock or object
46
0
8
0
Failure of Rappel
24
0
4
0
Slip on Snow or Ice
73
6
4
4
Fall into Crevasse
10
2
2
2
Loss of Control in Voluntary
Glissade
20
5
Avalanche
45
4
0
3
Lightning
11
0
2
0
Stuck Rope
5
0
0
0
Skiing
2
0
0
0
Faulty use of Crampon
5
0
0
0
Fall in River
1
0
0
0
Exposure and/or Exhaustion
18
0
4
1
Heat Prostration
1
0
0
0
Illness, Medical
3
0
0
0
Exceeding Abilities (inexperience)
11
0
0
0
Miscellaneous
2
0
2
0
Contributory Causes
Climbing Unroped
111
2
17
2
Climbing Alone
27
0
2
1
Attempt to Exceed Abilities
(Inexperience)
58
6
5
1
Darkness
4
0
0
0
Inadequate Equipment
19
0
7
0
Old Rope
3
0
0
0
Piton Failure
12
0
1
1
Bad Weather
7
0
0
0
Exposure and/or Exhaustion
7
0
0
0
Party Separated
8
0
0
0
1951-60
U.S.
1959-60
CAN.
U.S.
1961
CAN.
Age of Individuals
“Boys”
6
0
0
0
Under 15
16
0
1
0
15-20 years
129
1
25
3
“Young or College Age”
10
0
0
0
21-25
99
2
8
1
26-30
47
2
6
2
31-35
36
1
1
0
Over 35
34
1
7
6
Unknown
39
6
3
0
Unaffiliated with Climbing Groups
Unaffiliated
82
0
18
4
Not Stated
167
1
23
0
Member of Mountaineering Club
186
12
10
8
Estimate of Experience
None or little
231
6
24
3
Moderate
111
1
16
8
Experienced
33
5
8
1
Unknown
59
1
3
0
Month of Year
January
13
0
0
0
February
25
0
2
0
March
16
0
2
0
April
24
0
4
0
May
38
0
0
0
June
44
0
8
0
July
87
12
14
5
August
84
1
8
7
September
50
0
3
0
October
20
0
2
0
November
22
0
2
0
December
8
0
6
0
Not Specified
2
0
0
0