I read in the Asheville paper a man died ice climbing off the Blue Ridge this last week. Does anybody have further information that we could learn from this tragic event? I was ice climbing at 215 a couple weeks ago and although the ice looked fat, it was very detached, water running behind, and would be a lead you could not fall on. The warmer temps have wreaked havoc on the ice this last week.

I can't imagine ice climbing this time of year off the Blue Ridge Parkway it's been pushing 55-60 degrees in the daytime for a week. Those warm temps are not good for solid ice climbing.

Ralph Fickle died in a soloing fall on March 6th. The temps prior to the accident (as well as the day of) had been plenty cold--especially at that altitude (Doughton Park on the BRP). Check out Ray's Weather archives to confirm.

More info at Carolina Climbers' Coalition forum--Very Sad.



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Scoffster wrote:Ralph Fickle died in a soloing fall on March 6th. The temps prior to the accident (as well as the day of) had been plenty cold--especially at that altitude (Doughton Park on the BRP). Check out Ray's Weather archives to confirm.

More info at Carolina Climbers' Coalition forum--Very Sad.



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I know what it's like to be excited about ideal ice conditions- expecially when living in the mid-atlantic... I'm sure Ralph was stoked to get out and climb.

So Sorry to hear about his death. Truly sad indeed...

My condolences to his friends, family, and his local climbing community.