Who: 48-year-old Kent Ashcraft
Where: Thor Peak, Eastern Sierras, California
His mistake: He was an experienced mountaineer and a staple in the Sierras. This was bad luck.
What happened: A man was climbing up an ice chute with his 18-year-old son and a friend. All three people in the group were experienced climbers with a vast knowledge of the Sierras.
While the group stopped for a photo break, the ice under the man broke free and he slid down the chute. The man hit his head on snow sharks on the way down, then slid another 300 feet before coming to a stop.
The son and the friend hiked down to the victim and were not able to resuscitate him with CPR. A chopper was brought in to transport the man’s body to the local airport.
Ashcraft was a well known guide and climber in the area. He was a respected man and his death sent a shockwave through the local climbing and mountaineering community.
Read the story here.
Just goes to show knowledge doesn’t make you invincible. I always think of newbies making mistakes that get them in trouble, or people who are pushing their limits. You’re right, sometimes it’s just bad luck.