3Every year, novice climbers and experts are injured or killed by inadequate preparation and errors in judgment. Since 1948, the American Alpine Club has documented the year's most teachable climbing accidents, providing invaluable lessons to climbers. In Accidents in North American Climbing, each incident is carefully analyzed so climbers can avoid similar situations in the future. In our "Know the Ropes" and "Essentials" sections, professional mountain guides and other experts offer in-depth instruction to help prevent avoidable accidents.