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Climber Rescued From Ha Ling After Big Fall

A climber was airlifted to hospital then to Calgary Foothills Medical Centre by STARS air ambulence after a 20-metre fall on the Northeast Face of Ha Ling above Canmore.

Thanks to the fast work by Kananaskis Country Public Safety specialists (KCPS) who’ve had a busy spring.

Northeast Face of Ha Ling. Climber fell about half-way up.

The Northeast Face of Ha Ling is only graded 5.6, but has big run-outs and loose rock. There have been many rescues from the wall over the years.

The climber was in his mid-20s, suffered head, neck and back injuries and was unconscious after the fall. Watch an ascent of the Northeast Face in the below film.

The climber fell on pitch-six, which is the long right-rising traverse passed a number of bolts. The 5.6 grade should be adjusted on this pitch to 5.7 or 5.8 as there are a number on thin moves up run-out ground on loose blocks.

According to local Bow Valley media, Canmore Fire-rescue, RCMP, Alberta Parks, KCPS, EMS, Alpine Helicopters and STARS responded to the call.

There have been dozens of serious injuries and rescues reported from Western Canada this summer. Play safe out there.

In the late 1990s, two Ontario climbers were simul-climbing when they fell, pulling the pitons from the wall. They died from their injuries.

Watch how a long-line rescue work in the below video from Parks Canada and a rescue in 2010.

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