Fatal Accidents for Solo Climbers in New York and Wyoming
Both climbers were experienced, but little else is known about the accidents
Two climbers have died this week in separate accidents, with one in New York and one in Wyoming. Neither climber was roped up.
A 56-year-old New Haven, Conn. man was killed Monday after a free-solo fall in the Mohonk Preserve, according to the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office. Stephen Buda was pronounced dead at the scene about 5:30 p.m., deputies said.
Witnesses said that Buda was climbing in a popular area of the Trapps Bridge section of the Mohonk Preserve. He was around 50 metres up a 70-metre wall when he fell. He worked as pump engineer at the Bridgeport fire station.
“Stephen’s passing was due to injuries caused while enjoying a favourite hobby … rock climbing,” the fire department posted on Facebook Tuesday afternoon. “Stephen leaves behind a wife and two children. We will all miss him very much.” It is the second death at the preserve this year.
And a climber was found dead in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming over the weekend. The body of 42-year-old Hitoshi Onoe was found Saturday by park rangers at the base of the Black Chimney climbing route on Teewinot Mountain. The Japanese national worked in San Jose, according to the National Park Service. He’d climbed in Yosemite National Park and Grand Teton on previous trips.
“Onoe appears to have been climbing alone with the intent of going up the East Face route on the mountain, based on a marked map found with him,” the park service said, adding, “Route finding is difficult in the area.”
Onoe’s family in Japan had been notified of his death, according to the park service. No other details were available about the accident. “Grand Teton National Park employees extend their condolences to Hitoshi Onoe’s family and friends,” park officials said.
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