About

Over four years ago, I read “Touching the Void” and I was always intrigued by situation hikers find themselves in and the incredible things they do to stay alive.

This blog is about learning from other people’s mistakes, so you don’t make the same ones.

“Better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat”

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UPDATE: French Climbers Found Dead on Mount Blanc Massif

The two missing French climbers stranded by bad weather on the Mont Blanc Massif were found dead by a helicopter. The men dug a hole under an ice ledge for shelter, yet eventually perished in the harsh conditions.

Read the story here.

OTHER HIKER HELL STORIES:

A rock climber experienced “rope trouble” and broke his ankle in a [...]

Two Climbers Stranded in French Alps For Nearly One Week

Who: Olivier Sourzac and Charlotte Demetz, both in their 40s.
Where: Walker Peak, Mont Blanc Massif, France
Their mistake: Bad luck with the weather
What happened: Two climbers are stranded on the 4,208-meter Walker Peak in the Mont Blanc Massif due to bad weather. It is unclear how the climbers called for help, but they did [...]

Builderer Rescued Twice in 24 Hours

Who: A 38-year-old man
Where: Chicago, IL
His mistake: Didn’t check out the downclimb
What happened: A builderer (a climbing boulderer who climbs on buildings) had to be lowered from a 25-foot traffic light after topping it out. The man took off his shoes and shimmied up the light and couldn’t get down. Rescuers used a [...]

Climbers Stranded on Kitt Peak Rescued

Who: Two men
Where: Elephant Trunk, Kitt Peak, Arizona
Their mistake: It’s unknown
What happened: Two men were rapelling off of the Elephant Trunk on Kitt Peak and somehow became stuck. It is unclear what stopped them from completing the rappel.

Fortunately the men had a cell phone to call for help. The Southern Arizona Rescue Team and [...]

Army Lieutenant Dies in Rock Climbing Fall after Iraq Tour

Where: Makaha Valley, Hawaii
His mistake: It’s unknown if it was a human error or equipment failure
What happened: One week after a First Lieutenant returned from a tour in Iraq, he and his friends went on a grueling two-day hiking trip bushwacking through jungle forests and traversing ridges. During the trip, the Lieutenant and a friend [...]

Ice Climber Injured on Officer’s Gulch

Who: A male ice climber
Where: Officer’s Gulch, The Shroud, Colorado
His mistake: It’s unknown
What happened: Two men were ice climbing on The Shroud route near Copper Mountain and Frisco in Colorado. At some point during the climb, one of the men fell 40 feet. His friend called 911 and 22 volunteer rescuers responded. Rescue teams used [...]

Rock Climber Injured on Camelback Mountain

Who: A 26-year-old man
Where: Camelback Mountain, Phoenix, Arizona
His mistake: None here. Just bit off something bigger than he can chew
What happened: A man was free climbing a section of the mountain. He was not using ropes, but it is unclear if he was wearing a helmet. During his ascent, the man lost his grip and [...]

Mountaineer Receives Severe Head Injures in Sierra Espuna

Who: A male mountaineer
Where: Leiva Peak, Murcia’s Sierra Espuna, Spain
His mistake: Not sure what caused the fall
What happened: A man and two additional climbers were on an ascent to the Leiva Peak, part of the Sierra Espuna mountains in Spain. The group was 30 meters from the summit when one of the men fell. The [...]

Stranded Rock Climbers Rescued at Pinnacles National Monument

Who: Two male climbers
Where: Condor Condiment, Pinnacles National Monument, California
Their mistake: Bad timing
What happened: Two rock climbers attempted to ascend the “Condor Condiment,” a 500-foot route at Pinnacles National Monument.

During their climb, the sun began to set and they were forced to climb in the dark. At 6 p.m., the climbers didn’t feel safe climbing [...]

Rock Climber Injured by Falling Rock

Who: A British man
Where: Hagar Qim, UK
His mistake: Bad luck.
What happened: A man was rock climbing on Hagar Qim when a large rock above him fell and struck the man. The climber took a fall and suffered a severe head injury. Authorities said the man’s rope caught his fall, but he was still semi-conscious and [...]

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