Table 3.

 Circumstances at time of death, by mechanism of death and commercial status, 1970-2010

Acute mountain sickness			Exposure			Fall			Crevasse			Avalanche			Falling debris			Other			Unknown			Total
T	C		T	C		T	C		T	C		T	C		T	C		T	C		T	C		T	C
At base camp or lower altitude
2 (0.4)	0		1 (0.2)	0		3 (0.6)	0		0	0		7 (1.3)	0		0	0		4 (0.8)	2 (3.6)		0	0		17 (3.2)	2 (3.6)
Route preparation
10 (1.9)	0		17 (3.2)	0		66 (12.6)	3 (5.5)		5 (1.0)	1 (1.8)		126 (24.1)	2 (3.6)		7 (1.3)	0		8 (1.5)	0		5 (1.0)	1 (1.8)		244 (46.6)	7 (12.7)
Ascending*
0	0		2 (0.4)	0		38 (7.3)	0		2 (0.4)	0		12 (2.3)	1 (1.8)		0	0		0	1 (1.8)		10 (1.9)	0		64 (12.2)	2 (3.6)
Descending*
15 (2.9)	5 (9.1)		29 (5.5)	8 (14.6)		101 (19.3)	24 (43.6)		3 (0.6)	0		4 (0.8)	0		2 (0.4)	1 (1.8)		7 (1.3)	2 (3.6)		10 (1.9)	1 (1.8)		171 (32.6)	41 (74.5)
Evacuation
0	0		0	0		8 (1.5)	2 (3.6)		3 (0.6)	0		13 (2.5)	0		2 (0.4)	0		1 (0.2)	1 (1.8)		0	0		27 (5.2)	3 (5.5)
Other or unknown
1 (0.2)	0		0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0		1 (0.2)	0
Total
28 (5.3)	5 (9.1)		49 (9.4)	8 (14.6)		216 (41.2)	29 (52.7)		13 (2.5)	1 (1.8)		162 (30.9)	3 (5.5)		11 (2.1)	1 (1.8)		20 (3.8)	6 (10.9)		25 (4.8)	2 (3.6)		524 (100.0)	55 (100.0)

T=traditional climb; C=commercial climb. Data are no (%), and percentages relative to total for specified activity, mechanism, and commercial status.

*Associated with summit bid.