Accidents

Prevent extended gear from coming unclipped with these tips.

“I do not believe in God, Inga, but you should start.”

After losing her friend to a rappelling accident and her father to a heart attack, our writer grapples with what it means to lead a well-lived life.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

How you hold the rope is just one aspect of the belay—no more or less important than vigilance, rope management, how and where you stand, and communication.

Unbelievable save on Astroman. A once-in-a-lifetime lucky moment of bad luck.

The rappeller's ropes were too short, and, in a scenario all too common in climbing, he fell to the ground.

On December 5, 2011, in Pinnacles National Park, California, Lars Johnson found his legs crushed by a 2-ton boulder. His fast-acting partners saved his life.

Basic self-rescue knowledge should be a priority of any aspiring multi-pitch climber. Knowing and practicing these skills beforehand will save you lots of headache on the wall. Being self-reliant is the responsibility of each person—you are responsible for your own safety!

This was the second call to action by Riverside Mountain Rescue at Tahquitz in as many months, the first involving a double fatality.

Casual cragging is anything but—the law of gravity still applies. Use this four-part checklist to beat complacency and prevent accidents.

Violating the rule "never take your brake hand off the rope," is bad enough, but this belayer took it to a whole new level of danger.

Chelsea Walsh and Gavin Escobar died Wednesday in an apparent rappelling accident.

Climbing head injuries can happen anywhere: from the Salathé on El Cap to your favorite little sport crag. Here are five climbers' nightmare scenarios.

These all-too-common climbing mistakes could kill you, hurt you, beat you down, delay your send, or ruin your reputation.

What do you do if you find an injured solo climber halfway up a 1,600-foot face? In the 1930s, the only option was a high-elevation piggyback ride.

He was the best alpinist of his generation, a quiet, unassuming Canadian known for bold ascents of some of the world’s most iconic peaks. At the age of 25, he traveled to Alaska to join climber Ryan Johnson for a first ascent outside Juneau. They never came back, and a frantic nine-day search left more questions than answers.

We spot boulder problems. Sometimes we spot climbers before they clip their first piece of pro. Now imagine spotting a climber falling 60 feet.

How many pitches do you climb in a year? For many of our readers it's probably close to 1,000. If you make a critical error one out of a thousand times, the outlook is bleak.

In a crisis, decisive action may be the difference between life and death. Sometimes only a bystander is prepared to take that step.

Where do you find superhuman strength? If someone you love is utterly dependent on your efforts, sometimes you discover it’s already within you.

Lessons learned from an analysis of a serious fall and injury in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire.

The 2021 Denali climbing season is underway, but two risky practices are concerning.

A TBI, a climb, and an altered state

In 2010, Mike Libecki set out for Afghanistan alone to tackle a series of remote first ascents. It would lead him to the closest call he's ever had in his life.

An avalanche in the Upper Susa Valley took the lives of the two Italian alpinists.

Check out Climbing Staff's author page.

The snowpack, prone to slides, has proven deadly for a number of backcountry goers.

After several personal losses, our columnist reexamines her relationship to speed.

The jet suit could drastically cut down search and rescue response times in the backcountry.

Smythe fell 1,500 feet after a ledge collapsed and severed his rope.

Check out Carl Tobin, with Matt VanEnkevort's author page.

Check out Zoe Leibovitch's author page.

Though overcrowding was a deadly factor on Mount Everest this year, climate change might prove more devastating in the long run.

The impact of a 60-foot free soloing fall on Boulder's Second Flatiron

Check out The Roskelley Family's author page.

According to Parks Canada, three celebrated young alpinists—Jess Roskelley, David Lama, and Hansjörg Auer—have reportedly perished in the Canadian Rockies.

Check out Climbing Staff's author page.

Check out Alexa Flower's author page.

Check out Kevin Riley's author page.

Five top climbers who came back stronger than ever

Check out Katie Lambert's author page.

Check out James Lucas's author page.

Check out Chris Van Leuven's author page.

After a slew of climbing tragedies last fall, big wall climber Madaleine Sorkin partners with the American Alpine Club to provide resources for climbers affected by death.

A look back on the lives of Marc-André Leclerc and Ryan Johnson, who disappeared in Alaska's Mendenhall Towers after summiting a new route.

(Hand)Stand in solidarity with Quinn Brett. Join the climbing community in Estes Park, CO, on January 13, 2018, for an incredible evening of fun and entertainment. This fundraiser will also be a belated birthday present to Quinn; every single penny raised will go to her recovery fund.

Check out Alexa Flower and Miranda Oakley's author page.

File this under "worst case scenarios."

Check out Caleb Sanderson's author page.

Check out Caleb Sanderson's author page.

From skills, to history, to memoirs, to accidents, these six climbing books will keep the stoke high between sessions on stone.

Check out Climbing Staff's author page.

Check out Climbing Staff's author page.

Check out James Lucas's author page.

Check out Monica Prelle's author page.

El Potrero Chico, Mexico, is a big wall sport climbing paradise with short approaches, a tight community, and the world's best and biggest margaritas. When Editor Julie Ellison set off on her own life-list trip south of the border, she had no idea that the experience would change her as a climber forever.

Climbers just like you who rose to the occasion and saved a life

Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.

Check out Julie Ellison's author page.

Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.

Check out Climbing Staff's author page.

Check out Climbing's author page.