Climbing guide dies at Devil's Lake

RIP. https://www.wkow.com/news/baraboo-climbing-guide-audrie-pelosi-dies-in-devils-lake-state-park-accident/article_2af1e9fc-7531-4d8d-a3db-20437462d880.html 

Super sad. Peace to her family and friends. RIP

I sure hope information on how this happened comes out so that others can avoid those actions, if possible.  Really hate to hear this.  DL rock is super slick.  Not too hard for cams can skitch out.  Condolences.

Here is her family's gofundme: gofundme.com/f/support-for-…?

Climb in Peace Audrie Pelosi.

News articles say she was teaching a climbing safety course and was setting up equipment. No one saw her fall, as she walked away from the group. It sounds like maybe she was near some top anchor bolts without a PAS. But I’m just guessing. Tragically ironic incident, in any case. So sad. 

Charlie Kissick wrote:

News articles say she was teaching a climbing safety course and was setting up equipment. No one saw her fall, as she walked away from the group. It sounds like maybe she was near some top anchor bolts without a PAS. But I’m just guessing. Tragically ironic incident, in any case. So sad. 

News reports of the accident contain factual errors.  Also, there are no bolts at Devils Lake.

Professor Watermelon wrote:

News reports of the accident contain factual errors.  Also, there are no bolts at Devils Lake.

Do you know what the errors are in the reports? Just curious. Terribly sad either way, but it would be good to know what is fact and fiction.

Here is an official statement from the guiding company she was working for regarding her accident: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZXTKuxEbaG/?igsh=dmZjcmh4cGt4N28x

Michael Wolfe wrote:

Here is an official statement from the guiding company she was working for regarding her accident: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZXTKuxEbaG/?igsh=dmZjcmh4cGt4N28x

Text -

We’ve received many questions regarding the accident that occurred last weekend involving our guide, Audrie. There has also been a lot of inaccurate and conflicting information about it going around. Our goal with this is to put some straightforward and factual information out there and to share a bit about how accidents like this can be avoided in the future.
The support for our team, Audries family, and the Devil’s Lake climbing community has been amazing in the aftermath of this. Thank you all so much for that

The following is a statement representing Apex Adventures and the family of Audrie Pelosi regarding the accident that occurred on the morning of May 30th 2026. This will include factual information based on all the evidence we have.

Early in the morning of May 30th, Audrie Pelosi had an accident while preparing for a day of guiding. She was untethered at the top of the crag preemptively setting up toprope anchors for a day of climbing. For Apex, as an organization, it is our standard operating procedure to tether into an anchor point when working in a zone with exposed terrain with potential for a high consequence fall. This heartbreaking accident would not have occurred if she had been tethered in, which is our protocol.

Audrie was working with other guides and was not with a group of clients or instructing anyone when the accident occurred.

As a guide, she was extraordinarily competent and safe. She was a member of the American Mountain Guides Association (a national accrediting organization for guides) and had gone through years of rigorous safety training with Apex. These safety trainings, standard operating procedures and national certifications are specifically in place to prevent tragic events like this and she had been through them and knew them well. The events of May 30th are, unfortunately, a tragic accident.

She was an exceptional climbing guide and human being. She was a force in our community and at our guide service. We all will miss her dearly.

I never knew Audrie Pelosi, but from what I have learned in the past few days/week she sounds like one hell of a person, with so much passion.  Sending my love to the DL community that I am sure will take a long time to recover form this tragedy.  Climbing is the greatest life time passion sport that one can participate in IMHO, and along with the rules of the game, there are high consequence that comes with this sport.  We all choose to accept these rules every day we leave the ground, and it keeps us alive in the moment every time we do so. I wouldn't change those rules for a minute if I could, this isn't fucking golf. I give my best to the friends and partners of Audrie, and I can only hope in the coming months and years you find peace, and happiness in the fact that you did have the opportunity to know her, to tie in with her and now cry with her in your memories of her.  

You will climb again, smile again and little moments of remembrance will come to mind years from now, brought with the wind from distant peaks that will make you laugh, smile and tear up for just a moment.   That is the best part of what one can make from this. Something that can only come from the rope that we all carry.  Love for you all.  

JJ

Wisconsin DNR Report on Climbing Guide Audrie Pelosi’s Death

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has completed its official report on the death of Audrie Pelosi, a 30‑year‑old rock climbing guide from Baraboo, who died on May 30, 2026 at Devil’s Lake State Park d2dr22b2lm4tvw.cloudfront.net.

Incident Details

According to Conservation Warden Keith Meverden’s report, Pelosi was setting up anchors for a climb at “Hawk’s Nest”, a secluded spot along the East Bluff trail, with two other climbers — Anthony Pelosi Luek and Blake Rader — from the Madison‑based Apex Adventure Alliance d2dr22b2lm4tvw.cloudfront.net.

Luek testified that Pelosi fell from a tree she intended to use as an anchor. Neither Luek nor Rader saw her fall because they were setting up anchors east of her at the time. When they returned to her location, she was gone. After shouting for her without response, they climbed down the bluff and found her unresponsive d2dr22b2lm4tvw.cloudfront.net.

Rescue and Medical Response

Responders arrived and placed Pelosi in a medical basket on a narrow walking path. She was still breathing around 8:30 a.m., but had serious injuries. She stopped breathing about 30 minutes later and was pronounced dead at 9:25 a.m. d2dr22b2lm4tvw.cloudfront.net. An Army National Guard helicopter removed her body about an hour later.

Meverden estimated the fall was about 150 feet in an area with small trees and steep ground d2dr22b2lm4tvw.cloudfront.net.

Context

Pelosi was also known for teaching climbing safety courses, including a gear safety class at the park on the day of her death People. Friends and colleagues described her as adventurous, generous, and deeply connected to the Baraboo climbing community People+1.

The DNR’s report confirms the sequence of events, but does not provide further technical analysis of the cause of the fall. The Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park and local climbing groups have expressed condolences and honored her contributions to the community.