Woodroffe-Hedley v Cuthbertson (1997)

This case involved a negligence claim following a climbing accident on the North Face of the Tour Ronde (one of the peaks of the Mont Blanc Massif). Gerry Hedley was an experienced rock climber. He hired David Cuthbertson, the defendant, an experienced alpine climber, to guide him to the summit of the Tour Ronde—a steep ice climb of about 350 metres. At the time of the accident, Cuthbertson was leading (i.e. going first). Concerned about the heat of the sun on the snow and the danger of rock fall, he decided to protect Hedley on a single ice screw belay in order to save time. Cuthbertson had no recollection…