When I walked out the door to go climbing this morning, my newspaper was waiting on me with this article on the cover. At first I groaned, thinking it would be some ridiculous piece about how climbers die so often at the lake, but it actually made very clear that climbers weren't the people who usually get hurt at the lake. Maybe Jay's press release got through to someone!

Well it's about time the press is getting it straight! Thank's for the positive post.

That's the second decent article I've seen in the press in the last few months. Glad it's happening.

Maybe things really can change. I guess I'll have to rethink my world-view now.

Nice!

Pretty sweet that there is finally some awareness out there. Way to go Jay with your press release, very pleasing to see some positive influence!

Agreed! It is nice to think that mainstream media gets things right every once in a while.

Yea, looks like most people getting hurt are drunk! Has there been any MJ related deaths?

Good article. Is Doug Erikson related to Dave or Erik?

More good follow up of Jay's press release. Thanks again for ignoring us nay-sayers!

Looks like Wise of Baraboo Ambulance and Smelzer of the DNR are on our side as far as keeping the record straight.

It doesn't look like "most" accidents are alcohol related. I see one where MJ use was suspected.

In the blog on the article, who is SoylentGreen?

The term "free climbing" has been a point of confusion for the public and for many younger climbers, ever since that Sylvester Stallone movie.

I suppose to the average Joe it has the ring of "free-style", as in free-style skiing.

With respect to solyentgreen's helpful attitude and suggestions ... I see lots of people get lost on the CCC trail. I often see people wander over toward the Guillotine, or even take a left at Congrats. And that includes climbers who are not familiar with the trail as well. The spot where the trail goes down onto the edge of the boulder field is especially hard to spot because the trail goes out onto rocks while a well-worn use trail on dirt veers left toward the base of the Guillotine. This trail could use better signage, maybe a couple of 8x8" signs would do the trick.

If you see people looking confused, for heaven's sake ask if you can help them out.

I rode to DL this afternoon on my road bike. I spoke to a ranger and he told me a man "free-climbing" fell and died earlier this week. Apparently he was soloing. He also told me a woman took a fall and blew some gear on Thursday. He alluded to her hitting the ground, but would'nt say more.

How can we keep our few climbing spots free and open while people keep decking?!?

The woman on Thursday was top roping just off the trail near elephant buttress. She reached the top (about 20 feet) easily but when she weighted the rope to lower the anchors (all 3 nuts) let go and she decked. The rangers I talked to said the set up was very poorly done - obviously. Her husband had set up the TR.

Not sure if the soloist your are referring to was the rescue on Saturday the 22nd or not. But that guy was a scrabbling around the talus with friends when they decided to solo up a face (in hiking boots) and fell from the top which was about 40 feet. Last I heard he hadn't died however.

I happened to be bouldering on the North shore Thursday morning when the woman's accident happened and got this info from a ranger after she was med flighted out. He did not mention anything about a true 'climber soloist' getting injured.

The number of accidents this summer is quite alarming and sad but I only know of the one on Thursday that involved a climber using equipment and getting injured. The rest have been misguided hikers.

I've heard both of these stories. It's terrible that it happened. It's sad that they said that guy on the talas field was a "climber"... He was a hiker who pulled some stupid stuff, and fell. Plain and simple. And the women decking after her 3 nuts came out of their protection points, jease crimany. Didn't they pull on the nuts after placing them. Common sense poeple, common sense. Use it and it will save your life. This sport is all about common sense. Me and my cousin have been climbing since the beginning of spring 2007. We did not get a guide or any training. We simply bought the best books out there for climbing, read up on them, got the equipment, used common sense, and have been setting up bomb proof anchor systems all summer. Everyone told us we were crazy and needed a guide or training or something. But that takes half the fun out of doing it yourself. We were smart and used common sense and we are still around, climbing every weekend possible.

Agreed Mark. But 3 bad nut placements hardly falls under experienced or proficient. Mabye one coming out, but all 3......

Mark, better ways to smooth the rough edges of a newb, and retire the "flatlanding" nonsense. What a tired line . . . There are lots of reasons people live where they live.