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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Rock Climber Injured on Mt. Abrupt

Who: An American man
Where: Mt. Abrupt, Australia
His mistake: Not sure. He might not have placed his gear correctly
What happened: A rock climber was out with some friends on Mt. Abrupt. At some point of the climb, the man fell from a cliff face. It seems like some protection dislodged from the rock when he fell. [...]

Stranded Rock Climbers Rescued from Granite Dells

Who: Two young men
Where: Granite Dells, Arizona
Their mistake: It’s unknown. Could be a combination of poor planning or biting off more then they can chew
What happened: Two men were hiking and rock climbing in the Granite Dells area when they someone became stranded on a climbing rock. It doesn’t seem like the men were using [...]

Renowned Mountaineer Dies on Shisha Pangma

Who: 32-year-old Roby Piantoni
Where: Shisha Pangma, Tibet, China
His mistake: He was climbing in crystal-ice conditions which contributed to a slip
What happened: World-renowned mountaineer, Roby Piantoni, was with a group attempting a new route up the south face of Shisha Pangma, the world’s 14th tallest mountain and the last 8,000-meter peak to be climbed.

The team attempted [...]

Man Found After Cold Night on Mountain

Who: 27-year-old Thomas Pam
Where: Mt. Bierstadt, a 14er in Colorado
His mistake: He continued up after his group turned back
What happened: A man was hiking with friends towards the summit of Mt. Bierstadt. The group encountered snow. While the group elected to turn back, the man decided to hike higher on the mountain. The man called [...]

1 Climber Dies, Polish Ambassador Injured in Lightning Strike

Who: Andrei Timovic and Jaroslaw Lindenberg, ambassador of Poland
Where: A local mountain above Kolasin, Montenegro
Their mistake: Not sure if they checked the weather, but it could just be bad luck
What happened: A group of 11 climbers were attempting to summit a local peak when a lightning storm developed above them. Lightning struck the group – [...]

Curious Boy Saves Climber’s Life

Who: Iain MacLean, of Galashiels in the Borders
Where: Isle of Mull, UK
His mistake: He was climbing alone and in bad weather
What happened: A climber went out on a climb by himself. His plan was to climb on a freezing hillside. At some point of his climb, the man fell and broke his leg. He was [...]

First Avalanche of American Snow Season Hits Rocky Mountain NP

Who: Two climbers
Where: Dream Weaver alpine climb, Mt. Meeker, Rocky Mountain National Park
Their mistake: Unclear. Not sure if they checked avy conditions or not
What happened: Two climbers were climbing the Dream Weaver alpine climb route. They were on the first or one of the lower pitches of the climb when a small slab avalanche broke [...]

Canyoneer Injured in 15 Foot Fall

Who: A male canyoneer
Where: White Roost Canyon, Utah
His mistake: It’s unknown
What happened: A man was hiking with three others in White Roost Canyon. During a rappel into the canyon, the man fell about 15 feet. He suffered a back injury and was unable to get out of the canyon. It is unclear if it was [...]

Free Climber Stung by Bees 120 Times

Who: A climber in his mid-50s
Where: Camelback Mountain, Arizona
His mistake: He may have disturbed a bees’ nest
What happened: A hiker was near the top of Camelback Mountain and hiked off trail to free climb. During his climb, a swarm of bees began to attack him. The man scrambled to a ledge where he called for [...]

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