| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geml, Scott | 18 | Male | Fatality | Not recorded |
On October 11 Scott Geml (18), Ron Doering and Terry Shaffer, all from Cannon Air Force Base, visited Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. At 3:30 p.m. Geml. who was driving, was stopped and cited by a park law enforcement officer for making an illegal pass. The three also received a 20 minute lecture and had several beers confiscated.
At about 4 p.m. the three reached the Visitor Center. It was after hours and no tours were being run. Undaunted they passed a chain barrier and several warning signs and followed the paved tour trail down into the gaping entrance to the cave. In the twilight zone they encountered a gate barring further progress. Geml went over the rail and climbed out onto a ledge and along the sloping cave wall. At a point about 150 feet from the trail he reached an alcove about 65 feet above a lower switchback in the tour trail. Suddenly he fell, reportedly when a stalagmite handhold broke.
Doering and Shaffer ran up the trail to get help and encountered Darrell Bridwell, the officer who had cited Geml earlier. Bridwell radioed for further assistance while Doering ran back down and started to repeat Gemi's folly. Bridwell called him back to the trail and sent him out of the cave. Unlocking the gate, Bridwell proceeded to where the fall occurred. He found Gemi lying face-down by the trail, exhibiting no vital signs. Other park personnel arrived within seconds and verified that Geml was dead.
ANALYSIS: Drinking probably contributed to this foolishness but it is also possible that since this was a purely "fun" outing that foolishness was a more probable frame of mind then if it were a serious caving trip. In any event. such exposed climbing should be belayed. Since this is the second such accident this year for Carlsbad Caverns it might seem appropriate for the NPS to consider re-designing the access to the cave entrance. Considering the size of the entrance, this may not be possible. It is hope that no legal difficulties accrue since Carlsbad is an outstanding tour cave.