Bouldering deaths Pretty mad, right? Annually there are around 30 rock climbing-related deaths per year. Number of deaths in climbing accidents in the United States between 1951 and 2019, by region. The route the climbers were taking, said Cole, was of moderate difficulty, and requires moving between ice, snow and rock. 33% lower than deaths caused by driving accidents. , the gym confirmed in a Facebook post. Climbing. Aug 1, 2010 · The analysis revealed that fatalities occurred in all sports, but it was not always clear whether the sport itself or pre-existing health conditions contributed or caused the deaths. Jan 5, 2021 · Howard and I, along with our friend Robert Rittenhouse, started climbing together in the mid ’60s after coming across the MIT Outing Club’s Basic Rock Climbing. Whitney’s experts-only Mountaineer’s Route on Tuesday have been found dead. Gobright was best known for free soloing, or climbing without any safety gear, but at the time Jun 18, 2021 · The average yearly death toll from various types of rock climbing accidents is about 0. Apr 29, 2021 · On April 11, 2021, 31-year-old climber Josh Ourada fell approximately 150 to 200 feet while free soloing Nutcracker, on the Manure Pile Buttress, Yosemite. Jul 24, 2019 · There were 0. regions 1951-2019; Climbing accident causes in the U. 5-mile hike/climb to the top of 14,259-foot Longs Peak. Aug 25, 2024 · ASPEN, COLORADO – AUGUST 24, 2024 – A 33-year-old climber tragically lost his life after a significant fall on Williams Peak, located near Aspen, Colorado, in the Independence Pass area. e. He also collected books, magazines, and expedition postcards; he had every single copy of Climbing magazine, Rock and Ice, Alpinist, and The Climbing Zine. Jul 11, 2023 · The Boulder resident’s 500-foot fall is among several deaths at national parks across the country recently and the second to occur at Rocky Mountain National Park in the span of a week. On October 8, 2024 Whitney Clark was ascending a fixed rope at the start of Valkyrie (17 pitches, 5. Dec 19, 2024 · The Rocky Mountain Rescue Group said he fell around 75 feet to his death. featured obituaries. 20 hours ago · The Okanogan County Search and Rescue team responds to a climbing accident in the North Cascades mountains in Washington on Sunday, 11 May 2025 (Okanogan County Sheriff's Office via AP) Tselykh 20 hours ago · Emergency personnel respond to a climbing accident approximately 16 miles west of Mazama, Wash. How safe is bouldering? Compared to other climbing-related activities, indoor bouldering is one of the safest. 45 commercial boater deaths per 100,000. Dec 20, 2024 · You can read the full tribute to Climbers We Lost in 2024 here. Fort Collins police spokesman Brandon Barnes tells The Coloradoan the woman fell at Ascent Studio Climbing & Fitness on Saturday, and it appears she became unattached from the auto-belay system. Rock climbing can be dangerous. Rock climbing can be dangerous for a few reasons. Jan 4, 2022 · Urken died on January 21, in a fall while climbing near his home in Phortse, Nepal. On average, we see about 30 deaths per year, though it does fluctuate. May 20, 2024 · 5 Most DISTURBING Rock Climbing Deaths of All TimeWatch "5 Most DISTURBING Rock Climbing Deaths of All Time" for an intense look into the most harrowin 5 days ago · View local obituaries in Boulder County, Colorado. Mulholland was with a 27-year-old male climbing partner at the time of the incident, with this partner calling emergency services after the fall. Free solo climbing is a special form of free climbing but is different from the main forms of free climbing — sport climbing and traditional climbing — that use climbing protection for safety. Apr 27, 2024 · One person is dead and another is seriously injured after a two-person climbing team fell 1,000 feet while ascending a mountain in Alaska’s Denali National Park on Thursday. 2 days ago · Boulder Daily Camera Obituaries. , highlighting the inherent risks of climbing even in a relatively safe environment of an indoor gym. 11+). S. Crow Hill in Princeton, MA, was our regular go-to ledge and later we made frequent trips to Cannon Cliff before Howard and I moved to that area in the early ’70s. The document has moved here. 4 per 100,000 participants. The woman’s climbing partner, who was uninjured and called for help on his cellphone, was hoisted off the ridge by a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter Sunday night. Aug 28, 2024 · Condolences go out to those impacted by this tragic death. H. Nov 7, 2022 · You can read the full tribute to Climbers We Lost in 2022 here. Anker was one of Urken’s mentors at the Khumbu Climbing Center, founded by Anker and Jennifer Lowe-Anker. If you're interested in supporting Colorado's volunteer-powered search and rescue operation, one way to do so is through the purchase of a CORSAR card . Of these deaths, 25% are due to rappelling accidents and 30% are due to solo Aug 5, 2024 · Indoor climbing is much safer than outdoor climbing, where most accidents happen. This includes all different types of rock climbing. Extrapolating 30 deaths per 5,000,000 North American Climbers to the estimated global total of 25,000,000 climbers, we could see around 150 climbing-related deaths per year. According to a St George Sports Injury Clinic study in Australia, solo climbing caused 37. According to a UK study UK, you have more chances dying running or playing tennis while dying rock climbing. Andrew Niziol, 28, of South Lake Tahoe, and Patty Bolan, 29, were Rock climbing has exploded in popularity in recent years due to acclaimed films like Free Solo and Dawn Wall, and even made its debut this summer as a new Olympic sport. . It was reported by friends of the 42 year old hiker that he was supposed to return home around dark. He was psyched to hit it all, “a well-rounded climber who was just stoked to get outside and have fun … whether he was climbing hard sport routes, long challenging multi-pitches, or technical slab[s],” said longtime partner Brianna Geoghegan. , on Sunday. She’d met the other members of her party at a rock gym in Athens, Georgia. July 13 Update: The Larimer County Coroner’s office has identified the decedent as THE PRESCRIPTION—FEBRUARY 2025. Dec 20, 2024 · At the time, Rumney was a relatively new climbing area with little publicly accessible information, making the outings true adventures. (AP) — Police say a woman fell about 40 feet (12 meters) to her death at an indoor climbing gym in northern Colorado. It was a completely avoidable accident (the climber was on the top of a frozen waterfall, setting up an anchor, and slipped. Dec 17, 2024 · Man Dies After Falling From Second Flatiron Boulder County, Colo. 5% of climbing injuries, followed by lead climbing at 25%. Dec 17, 2023 · Explaining the Concept of Fatality Rates in Rock Climbing: Fatality rates in rock climbing represent the ratio of climbing-related deaths to the total number of climbers within a specific period. A 2017 report recorded 38 climbing-related deaths in North America in the previous year. Rock climbing is actually safer than driving!. Although an expert climber, she made two crucial errors in her rope ascension/top-rope solo system when her single ascension device was jammed by a sling. Mar 24, 2025 · A climber died in Boulder on Sunday after sustaining injuries in a fall in the 33700 block of Boulder Canyon Drive, which the Boulder County Sheriff's Office said was the Riviera climbing area. Biggest Reasons Rock Climbing Can Be Dangerous. 86 whitewater fatalities per 100,000 boaters, or 2. On June 3, a 58-year-old Calgary man slipped on snow and ice near Rawson Lake and plunged to his death. , fell to his death while climbing in the Vertical Dreams climbing gym in Manchester, N. Martin Feistl died on Saturday, May 18, following a 130-foot fall in his native Austria, while free soloing on the steep 1,000-foot South Face of the Scharnitzspitze (8,097ft). Sep 24, 2024 · Over the 100 plus year climbing history at the Tower, there have only been seven climbing deaths, according to the National Park Service. Rock climbing deaths are 33. The fatality rate for all human-powered boaters (flatwater, whitewater, and ocean) for 1995 (the latest available data) was 0. 25 private boater deaths per 100,000 and 0. The photo shows the upper portion of the West Buttress Route of Denali, showing the approximate location Jul 14, 2023 · The victim of the fall was 26-year-old Boulder resident Bailee Mulholland. All of these accidents are preventable by simply following proper safety protocol and using a rope and safety gear. , who was also a climber and first ascensionist. Williams Peak, also known as Bill Williams Peak, reaches 13,388 feet about 12 miles east of Aspen and near Independence Pass. Remember that if you climb higher than 30 feet above the ground without a rope and gear then you are in the death zone and a fall is usually unsurvivable. Sep 24, 2024 · Following the news of Porter’s death, the NPS offered some safety guidelines for climbers, including checking the weather forecast before climbing and monitoring changing weather conditions Jun 17, 2021 · A woman died Saturday after falling about 40 feet from an indoor climbing wall in Fort Collins, Colorado. He was obsessive about getting the May 8, 2025 · View Boulder obituaries on Legacy, the most timely and comprehensive collection of local obituaries for Boulder, Colorado, updated regularly throughout the day with submissions from newspapers Nov 29, 2019 · Brad Gobright, 31, fell roughly 1,000 feet to his death while descending the steep cliff face known as Sendero Luminoso in El Portero Chico, while his companion, fellow climber Aidan Jacobson, 26 Jun 10, 2018 · The consequences of a climbing fall while soloing is almost always death. View Obituary. About 70% of accidents occur outside. – On December 16th, 2024, at approximately 9:00 pm, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of an overdue hiker in the area of the Second Flatiron just outside of Boulder. Apr 29, 2024 · Robbi Mecus died of injuries sustained in a fall. 1 day ago · Falls like this leading to three deaths are extremely rare, said Cristina Woodworth, who leads the sheriff’s search and rescue team. This includes canoe, kayak, and raft. it also uses no aid or protection) but is usually not referred to as such except in the case Sep 20, 2022 · The Boulder Field is located just below the Keyhole, which starts the 1. According to Torie Kidd, Hansche’s wife, this is where his love for technical rock climbing was born. Inspired by a discussion on the Spider Girl thread - I think I remember hearing about bad accidents when hitting a gap in not-ideally-constructed padding; I've heard of gyms where the bouldering was more like outdoors with crashpad-like mats you had to position yourself, and I can imagine that it could go very bad when you hit a hold on the way down from a face or slabby climb - but does Moved Permanently. obituaries May 13, 2025. The most notable deadly events on Everest were the 1922 British Mount Everest expedition , 1970 Everest disaster , 1974 Everest disaster , 1996 Everest disaster , 2014 Mount Everest avalanche , and 2015 Mount Jun 10, 2018 · SAN FRANCISCO — Two climbers who plunged to their deaths from El Capitan were using a risky technique known as simul-climbing to increase their speed and may have neglected to attach their rope May 21, 2024 · Rangers patrolling the upper mountain found the climber's empty tent at the top of the 16,200-foot ridge, and determined through interviews that the climber was last seen by another climbing team Jul 18, 2023 · A well-known Boulder climbing club that specializes in quick and rope-free ascents of Boulder’s famous tilted Flatirons has been jolted by the death of a member who fell 500 feet to her death in Mar 30, 2024 · When it comes to rock climbing as a whole, it is a generally safe sport. The Rocky Mountain Rescue Group climbed up to the spot where the hiker was located. Nov 29, 2019 · World-renowned climber Brad Gobright has fallen to his death while abseiling in northern Mexico. READ MORE“He really represented the transition of Nepali climbing culture going from a vocational to an avocational one,” Conrad Anker told. The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received a distress call at approximately 2:13 PM on August 24, reporting the climber’s fall, estimated to be between 50 to 100 feet, onto a rocky Jan 22, 2025 · Early on, he collected stamps and coins—a seed that was planted by his grandfather, Robert Blair Sr. Dec 19, 2024 · The Boulder County Sheriff's Office discovered the man's vehicle near the Gregory Canyon trailhead. The RMRG performed a recovery operation to bring the man's body to the waiting Boulder County Coroner Investigator, who Dec 24, 2022 · Hayden’s death was layer upon layer of tragedy: one of two deaths, the other being of his beloved and equally accomplished partner, Inge Perkins, in and following an avalanche in Montana. The ropes are intended to arrest their fall if they should slip, and typically climbers use backup anchors, said Joshua Cole, a guide and co-owner of North Cascades Mountain Guides, who has been climbing in the area for about 20 years. They were rappelling down the side of a steep gully near 2 days ago · Three people died and a fourth was injured while rock climbing in the North Cascades in Washington state, authorities said. Her cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. Sep 2, 2022 · Number of climbing deaths in U. Nathan Roberts, 35, October 15. Rangers at the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station were able to collect satellite location data from the climber’s InReach account and identified their probable location at 17,000 feet on Denali. Nathan Roberts was a climber’s climber. Jun 7, 2024 · If the OSHA investigation indeed confirms the accident happened while routesetting, to our knowledge at CBJ it would mark the first death of a routesetter on the job that’s been confirmed in the U. FORT COLLINS, Colo. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cari, who died in 2017. Authorities in Okanogan County said the climbers were believed to be Jan 9, 2023 · The renowned climber/adventurer Richard Leversee passed away on January 12, 2022, in Morro Bay, California. Falling wrong can cause bone breaks, ligaments to tear or stretch, tendons to snap, and muscles to pull. Send flowers, find service dates or offer condolences for the lives we have lost in Boulder County, Colorado. Bouldering (ropeless climbing to low heights), sport climbing (mostly bolt protected lead climbing with little objective danger) and indoor climbing (climbing May 21, 2024 · A climber was found deceased Monday, May 20, 2024 after apparently falling on May 16, 2024. CNN values your feedback Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old Boulder woman died Sunday after she fell 500 feet during a free-solo climb on the Four Aces of Blitzen Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park, park officials said. It’s true, but it’s mind-blowing. Jan 20, 2025 · Another climbing team had witnessed them traversing from the 17,200 feet plateau to Denali Pass at 18,200 feet on Wednesday, May 15. IFMGA guide Karsten Delap posted a short clip on Instagram analyzing the accident. Okanogan County Sheriff Office via Facebook "It is truly amazing that he came out with 2 days ago · A rock climber survived a 400-foot plunge at a Washington state national park – a fall that killed his three friends – and then drove to a payphone even with horrific injuries Saturday. Climbing magazine caught up with Ourada in a phone call to find out more details about the accident and to learn how his recovery is going. Wednesday and found the man's body near the Third Flatiron. 1 day ago · Three King County residents fell to their deaths while climbing in the North Cascades over the weekend, while a fourth climber survived. and Canada 1951-2019; Climbing accidents in the U. Her climbing partner, a 30-year-old woman from California, was seriously injured, officials said. Whether indoor or outdoor rock climbing can be fatal or cause serious injuries. I was sitting in the Seattle airport upon receiving the news, and was, for at least 10 seconds, speechless. m. Dec 18, 2023 · Number of climbing deaths in U. 3 injuries per 1,000 climbs. Indoor climbing has a nonfatal injury rate of about 2. The death rate in rock climbing is very low, at 0. View All Featured Obituaries. In theory, bouldering is also free solo climbing (i. But the conditions, the amount of ice versus rock for example, can change rapidly with the weather, he said, even week to week or day to day, changing the route’s risks. MORE: Teacher arrested for allegedly putting 5-year-old 1 day ago · Rock climbers secure themselves by ropes to anchors, such as pitons or other climbing equipment. Becoming a professional climber has become a realistic feat for aspiring climbers with increasing sponsorship opportunities from clothing, shoe, and gear compan May 24, 2024 · On Tuesday, May 21t, Lee Hansche, 46, of Allenstown, N. and Canada 1951-2019, by climber experience; 3 days ago · OKANOGAN COUNTY — Three people are dead after a Sunday climbing accident on North Early Winters Spire near Mazama. Seven years ago, two climbers were killed in a fall on El 1 day ago · The spires are a popular climbing spot. It’s a key metric that sheds light on the inherent risks associated with this sport. Ronald William Goodacre. Aug 21, 2018 · There have been several scrambling-related deaths this summer. Friends of the hiker searched the Hey Guys, In case some of you aren't aware of the original story (Click here for the OP), I lost a friend in a climbing accident about a month ago. Richard D Livingston. Oct 17, 2023 · According to her father, Pingchuan Zhang, this trip to Sand Rock was his daughter’s second time climbing outside. 5-mile technical stretch of the 7. regions 1951-2019. Then, the Boulder Emergency Squad flew a drone over the area around 12:10 p. Apr 29, 2025 · Falls account for roughly 70% of rock climbing fatalities; The highest cause of death in rock climbing accidents is falling due to equipment failure or human error; Head injuries are responsible for about 85% of fatalities in rock climbing accidents; Rope failure has been identified as a cause in approximately 5% of climbing deaths Deaths have occurred on the mountain every year since 1978, excluding 2020, when permits were not issued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 017 deaths per 1,000 climbs. The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office says the climbers, all from Renton, were descending a steep gully about 11:30 a. 006%, with only 30-40 deaths among 5,000,000 recorded climbing trips in North America. when a rappelling anchor apparently gave way, causing them to fall to their deaths. It can also be very rewarding. In his freshman year in high school, Richard signed up for a basic rock-climbing class offered at an outdoor shop in Pasadena, California. May 9, 2024 · Two climbers who were reported missing on Mt. owtrnyrodynzwmutjvfifivixradvlrxqigzkslfohklztfqpbjtlimjdsvikytqknnygeqgq