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Vancouver-area climber falls to her death at Chek Canyon

A 59-year-old Port Coquitlam climber fell to her death on Mother's Day Sunday (May 14) at Chek Canyon up Conroy Forest Road. Lois Ann Nordstrom of Port Coquitlam fell approximately 35 metres at about 3 p.m.

A 59-year-old Port Coquitlam climber fell to her death on Mother's Day Sunday (May 14) at Chek Canyon up Conroy Forest Road.

Lois Ann Nordstrom of Port Coquitlam fell approximately 35 metres at about 3 p.m. while attempting to rappel off a two-pitch climb at a wall called the Crest.

It took approximately 20 minutes for medical personnel to reach Nordstrom, according to witness Johnny Canal. She was conscious for some of that time, but despite two doctors climbing nearby immediately attending to Nordstrom, she died of her injuries at the scene.

Nordstrom was almost mid-way between two pitches on a climb called Master of My Domain. She had rappelled down from the top of two pitches to just above the midpoint at which point she ran out of rope and clipped onto a bolt in the rock. She was heard yelling to her partner that she was pulling the rope and moments later fell to the ground.

An ambulance drove up to the Crest approach trail approximately 500 metres off the highway. Canal said he heard ambulance drivers radio an air ambulance in an attempt to find a landing area for the helicopter, but it was impossible due to power lines and the main parking lot's size. Nordstrom was loaded onto the ambulance instead.

Coroner Brian Pothier investigated the death and determined it to be "simply an accident."

Numerous witnesses climbing just metres away from Nordstrom commiserated and discussed what happened in a Squamish web forum. One writer estimates 10 to 15 first-hand witnesses saw the accident, but since most were climbers concentrating on their own safety, the cause of Nordstrom's fall remains confusing.

Witnesses say Nordstrom was clipped to a bolt above the midpoint station because she ran out of rope. She pulled the rope and set up an anchor by threading her rope through the same carabiner she had used to clip her herself onto the rock. When she unclipped herself to lower on rappel, she also unclipped her anchor and fell to the ground.

All bloggers agreed that climbers must all take responsibility for each other and help out if they see unsafe practices. They also united in expressing condolences for Nordstrom's loved ones. Nordstom is survived by one adult son living in Calgary.

A service and reception is scheduled for Tuesday (May 23) at 1 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 33522 7th Avenue, Mission, B.C. A viewing will be held beforehand from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Woodlawn Mission Funeral Home, 7386 Horne Street, Mission.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP Margaret Hanson at Margaret_R_Hanson@yahoo.ca.

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