ILLNESS, PARTY SEPARATED

Alberta, Rocky Mountains, Mount Edith Cavell

On July 30, 1988, three climbers started early to climb Mount Edith Cavell via the East Ridge. They reached the first step at an elevation of 2940 meters, when one of the climbers said that he felt sick. After some discussion, it was decided that the two healthy climbers would continue up the mountain while their partner would descend the broken scree slopes leading down from the step and end up in Verdant Pass. The group was to reunite at the trailhead that evening. However, the sick climber did not appear. He felt too ill to walk and established a bivouac at treeline. He was found by helicopter at 1600 the next day. (Source: Patrick Sheehan, Canadian Park Service, Jasper)

Analysis

There would have been much less risk of further illness and of injury if the group had remained together and helped the ill climber descend. (Source: Patrick Sheehan, Canadian Park Service, Jasper)