Climber dies after 40-foot fall at St. Johns Ledges in Kent

KENT, Conn. — A 30-year-old Great Barrington man died Thursday, Sept. 10 after falling approximately 40 feet while rock climbing at St. Johns Ledges along the Appalachian Trail in Kent.

The man was identified as Collin Salmon, who previously lived in Warren.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Environmental Conservation Police responded to the area at about 2:30 p.m. off River Road and announced Salmon’s death later that day.

Kent Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tim Sneller, who was among the first responders on the scene, said Salmon was part of a group of about 12 climbers participating in a climbing class. He was believed to be one of the instructors.

“I think everyone was in shock from that [climbing] group,” Sneller said. “They were huddled up and debriefing, and they were definitely shocked.”

The ledges are less than a mile from the parking area, with the base of the climbing area about a seven-minute hike from where emergency vehicles could park, Sneller said.

Approximately two dozen first responders were at the scene, including 12 to 14 who entered the woods. Responders came from Kent, Warren, Gaylordsville and Sherman, with an ambulance crew and paramedic responding from New Milford.

Sneller said he could not recall another death or serious injury at the ledges and that emergency calls from the area are uncommon.

Salmon was transported to New Milford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The circumstances of the fall remain under investigation.

Emergency responders gather near St. Johns Ledges in Kent on Thursday, Sept. 10, after a 30-year-old rock climber fell to his death.Photo by Graham Corrigan