Rock Climbing Accidents

We all know climbing is dangerous which makes it no surprise that rock climbing accidents do happen.

Although climbing accidents are inevitable it is always a sad time when we find out about a climber being injured or even killed.

Todd Skinner dies on Leaning Tower

Update on John Bachar Accident

Since we know that rock climbing is extremely dangerous we must take every action we can to protect ourselves while we climb. The most important thing is every climber needs to understand that they are responsible for their safety and their climbing partners safety.

Overconfidence You've been climbing with more experienced climbers than yourself and you think you know more than you really do. So when you go out on real rock you overestimate your knowledge and ability.

Carelessness When you just start climbing you are very detail oriented you always are double checking everything you do. You check your knot several times, making sure your belayer is setup properly, your harness is double backed, etc. Once you start gaining more experience people start to get careless with these things and that is when accidents happen.

LuckBad luck that is, you know sometimes you just get caught in a bad storm, a hold breaks, or you get hit by falling rock or someone's gear.

These risks can be minimized, but are typically out of your control. To minimize them be sure to plan ahead, know the weather reports, wear helmets, and do not climb below another party.

Have You Had or Know of a Recent Rock Climbing Accident?

Climbing accidents can be no joke, every year countless people are injured climbing.

Do you have a personal climbing accident story to share? Have you read about or recently heard about a climbing accident in the climbing news or climbing community?

Share it with your fellow climbers.

Chuck Clance Out for Spring 2010
May 4, 2010. Climbing legend Chuck Clance (age 58)of California and Nevada was air-lifted from Pinnacles National Monument(East Side/Discovery Wall)after ...

broke my arm by falling 5 meters
I was climbing on an indoor overhang which was under the 4.5m point where the BMC say you can climb without a harness. I reached up to grab a hold which ...

broke my nose after falling on a rock
I was going down the mountain, when I suddenly crashed and fell on my face and my nose was broken. I think I did not have to go mountain climbing solo....

Cathleen Terczak dies in tragic climbing mishap....
the details of the incident are still pending, however Cathy and her husband Bob, are both experienced climbers and the National Park Service are handling ...

1000 Miles with a Broken Leg
Near the end of a typical climbing day at Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin, I wandered off to do some bouldering. After being satisfied with a little ...

Accident Report For Timothy Garland
On February 21, 2003, Timothy Garland (24) climbed Magic Light in the Overboard Area of Smith Rock State Park. Magic Light is a bolted route rated 5.12b,...

My Brothers Fall
About three years ago my brother fell rock climbing. He had climbed many times before but this time he did not use safety gear.

He was with a group ...

Michael Reardon Taken out to Sea by Rogue Wave in Ireland
On the afternoon of Friday July 13, just a day before Michael Reardon was to head home to Marci and Nicki, Michael wanted to show Corso(his photographer)...

The Destination Was the Accident!
When I was a teenager, my scout troop engaged in a lot of informal rock and mountain climbing, mostly freehand without much formal equipment. We lived ...

Back on the Rock after near death fall @ Sand Rock Alabama 2009 Not rated yet
I was making my forth lead climb on "Misty" (5-10CD) @ Sand Rock on Look-out Mountain in Alabama on Sept 13th 2009. On my previous climb I had almost made ...

im 13 and i fell 15feet on rocks Not rated yet
I'm 13....June 9th is a day i will never forget. that is the day i went rock climbing. its was not the first time i went. so here's the story... so I'm ...

walked away after falling 50-55ft Not rated yet
Here's my story...

this is the best description i can give from what i remember and what my friends told me... I'm 18, I fell when I was 17, last august,...

Deep Water Solo Serpent Scare Not rated yet
I have climbed off and on for the past few years, but for the past several months I have really taken bouldering seriously. My friend Dane and I have climbed ...

Beginners Mistake Not rated yet
At 20 meters high of an easy route, after 5 times doing it, the complete experience outside climbing, the difficult part came and I made the decision ...

Friend Breaks Leg on Sport Route Not rated yet
I was belaying my friend and he took a 60 foot whipper and swung into the wall and broke his leg right in the middle.

Devin Munk (14 years old) survives 100 foot fall Not rated yet
Devin Munk a 14 year old from the Seattle area was on a family outing when the earth gave way under his feet and he started to fall - he couldn't arrest ...

Yosemite Climber Peter Noble dies Not rated yet
A rock climber who died in Yosemite National Park over the weekend has been identified as Peter Charles Noble, 44, of Oakland, the Tuolumne County Sheriff'...

Ice Climbing Accident and How to be Safe Not rated yet
On Oct. 27th, while ice and mixed climbing, a friend of mine came very close to experiencing a life changing accident. As he re-lead a mixed line, he fell ...

60 foot fall Not rated yet
My friend and I were rappelling down a steep cliff in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

I had just tied off my 7/16” rope and put my harness on. I ...

Climber Dies from 200 ft Fall in Poke-O-Moonshine Not rated yet
CHESTERFIELD, N.Y. (AP) _ An experienced climber Dennis Luther died after falling about 200 feet from an Adirondack rock-climbing route on Sunday, according ...

Rock Climbing Accidents

Have You Had or Know of a Recent Rock Climbing Accident?

Climbing Accident Stories from other Visitors