R-Factor

Most climbing accidents don't stem from a lack of technical skill — they stem from a combination of risk and human psychology. R-Factor is committed to identifying the recurring patterns behind climbing accidents and turning those findings into real, actionable strategies that help climbers make better decisions before, during, and after a climb.

We believe that understanding why accidents happen is the first step toward preventing them. R-Factor translates rigorous research on human factors and decision-making into accessible, practitioner-facing tools for climbers, guides, and search and rescue professionals.

Meaningful safety improvements require open sharing in our community. R-Factor is dedicated to sharing research findings broadly — through publications, workshops, and partnerships with organizations like the American Alpine Club, Petzl Foundation, and NPS — so that what we learn in the field reaches the people who need it most.