Throwback Thursday

Since becoming a national park in 1915, Rocky Mountain has recorded at least 60 fatalities associated with climbing 14,259-foot Longs Peak, the highest point in the park. Perhaps one of the strangest deaths to occur on the mountain happened in 1889 - prior to the park's establishment. Frank Stryker was ascending the Keyhole Route when a loaded pistol fell out of his pocket and discharged into his neck. You might say there was a bit of karma involved. The 28-year-old was taking pleasure in launching large boulders down the mountain while climbing the peak. The newspaper account at the time said "he announced his intentions of sending off a particularly huge stone" just before the accident occurred. The man continued to cling to life for ten more hours while his companions attempted to transport him down the mountain on a makeshift litter.



You can read more about the history of fatalities on Longs Peak by clicking here .







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com