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Ice Climber Injured After 40-Foot Fall in Vermont

Steve Charest, 39, has been critcally injured after taking a 40-foot fall while ice climbing near Smuggler’s Notch.

Steve was transported by helicopter to the University of Vermont Medical Center for treatment where he remains in stable but critical condition.

Steve is the the co-owner of Petra Cliffs climbing gym with his wife Andrea Charest, they are both guides with the American Mountain Guides Association.

The Petra Cliffs website notes: Steve is Petra Cliffs’ co-owner, Program Director and Head Guide. He has been professionally guiding rock, ice, mountaineering, and ski mountaineering programs since 2001. Steve has a degree in Outdoor Education from Johnson State College and completed a NOLS Outdoor Educators Course for Mountaineering & Rock to kickstart his career as a mountain guide and educator.

Steve has climbed extensively throughout the US & Canada, including Red Rocks, Yosemite, Mt Baker, Mt Shuksan, Grand Teton, Devil’s Tower, Indian Creek, Rocky Mountain National Park, Joshua Tree, Squamish B.C., Acadia Nat’l Park, Pemberton and locally in the Green Mts., White Mts., and Adirondacks. His favorite backcountry ski descents include the Super C Couloir (Portillo, Chile), Girls Mountain & the Worthington Glacier, (Valdez AK), Shoot the Moon Couloir (Teton Nat’l Park, WY), The Duchess (Tuckerman Ravine, NH), Katahdin, ME, Big Jay (Jay, VT), and a first descent of The Honeymoon Suite (Portillo, Chile).

On social media, Charest’s wife Andrea said that she will provide more information about the accident, but that Steve was in good hands after the accident and is currently in serious condition due to head trauma.

We wish Steve a speedy recovery!

Smuggler’s Notch has some of the best ice climbing in New England and is often referred to as “Smuggs” or “The Notch” by locals.

Smuggler’s Notch

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