Following a recounting of what happened and the climbers’ own accounts of their reasoning, the published report analyses the causal factors and summarises the common denominators:
- A high level of motivation, leading to overeagerness and haste
- Too much emphasis on speed and progress, leading to hasty and inadequate assessment of the present conditions and inadequate belaying or anchor placement
- Inadequate communication, leading to unspoken decisions and differences in situational awareness
The analysis concludes by listing six specific lessons to learn, among them four very old ones:
- Think ahead about dangerous situations
- Take care to communicate well within the team
- In the mountains, always test holds and anchors
- Don’t be afraid of taking good time
Thus, the report, and the data available in the SERAC database, give us a welcome chance to relearn what was so eloquently phrased by Edward Whymper in 1871:
“Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end.”