The American Alpine Club Climbing Incidents Project showcases over a decade’s worth of data from the digital versions of the renowned North American Climbing Accidents reports published by the American Alpine Club (AAC). Each volume, spanning the past ten years, has been carefully parsed using advanced regex techniques to extract and segment detailed accounts of individual climbing accidents.

          These accident reports were compiled into a comprehensive JSON file, which forms the backbone of this interactive map. By visualizing these incidents, users can explore specific accident locations, types, and circumstances. This innovative tool not only highlights each incident’s story but also includes a “Random Accident” button that invites users to discover new stories and reflect on valuable lessons. I believe that understanding and learning from the experiences and mistakes of others is one of the most effective ways to ensure safety in the mountains.

       This project embodies my belief that creating unique and creative data visualizations can refine and broaden our understanding of the world around us. With the current dataset as a foundation, I am excited to explore potential expansions, such as integrating search and rescue incident data or crowdsourced accident reports. I am always open to new ideas to enrich and enhance this platform.