Tragedy struck the 14ers community again this weekend when a 21 year old fell to his death, nearly in the same spot as the couple last weekend. Sources say this was his first fourteener and that he was wearing skating shoes while scaling a class 4 route.
A couple went missing on Sunday, August 20th and were later recovered at the bottom of Capitol Peak last Tuesday. We also discovered what killed a young girl from New York near Uncompahgre Peak last week (altitude sickness). Wednesday, August 23 a man fell to his death in Rocky Mountain National Park, and another woman was found dead near Tonahutu Creek the day after. SAR crews are still looking for the body of a man on the Maroon Bells from last September who is described as being well prepared and experienced in mountaineering. These mountains are indiscriminate in which lives they claim.
While, yes, some people have hiked the full Harvard trail with a single liter water bottle, and some summit capital as their first fourteener… That doesn’t mean it’s for everyone or that’s it’s smart. Some people climb Everest without oxygen. It can be done, but it’s not for everyone.
There are many reasons to explore these lands. People watch the eclipse, get married, engaged, celebrate birthdays, celebrate beating cancer, recover from degenerative spine issues, spend time with family, and etcetera. Many have seen the increases in population and tourism in this state. It is only inherit that we will see increases in accidents, unpreparedness, inexperience, and climbing above skill level.
I think it’s important to note, however, that people are always too quick to judge and blame an accident on inexperience when it really can be an accident. They happen every day and people die the same way. Simply put, people lose their lives to events completely out of their control. It’s amazing we survive day to day as it is. One can easily step on what appears to be a solid rock. I know I’ve stepped on large boulders that you wouldn’t have thought would move until you place 160 lbs on it. A dislodged rock from above can easily hit one in the head. I’ve seen rock break loose for no reason. I’ve seen small rock slides where no one is climbing. Avalanches anyone?
This latest death, however, is the result of sheer stubbornness. If you are going to climb with someone, especially more experienced than you, don’t take their advice for granted. He apparently went off route after being told not to go that way by another climber. Study the route. Take a moment to assess. I’ve read the forums where people will go off route to find a shortcut. There aren’t any on Capitol.
I take the souls who have perished in these mountains with me. I don’t climb to die. I climb to live. If I should meet my fate (whether that be by accident or my own stupidity) then at least I died doing something I love and lived out a positive life.
