Mar 1, 2016 3 min read

A rock climber from Chartiers Township who was known for his daring and pioneering climbs in West Virginia during his youth died Sunday afternoon following a fall near Ohiopyle.

Calvin “Cal” Swoager Jr., 66, was climbing without a rope in Coll’s Cove, a popular climbing spot on state game lands in Dunbar Township, Fayette County, when he lost either his grip or footing when a rock broke near the cliff line, prompting him to fall at least 40 feet, witnesses said.

Several climbers were nearby, including Joel Brady of Moon Township, and they attempted to resuscitate Swoager while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 45 minutes as they waited for emergency responders in the remote area, but he lost consciousness moments after the fall and could not be revived, Brady said.

The Fayette County coroner’s office pronounced Swoager dead at 4:40 p.m. and the results of an autopsy Monday were not immediately released.

Brady said Sunday’s climb was an “easy bit of rock” in comparison, although he was “soloing” without safety equipment.

“He was pretty famous in these parts for having put up some of the boldest and most impressive routes that are in the guidebook,” Brady said. “He’s something of a legend. He was daring in his ability to climb very difficult things that many of us would regard a high-danger level that earned our respect. That was in his youth.”

Those routes included his ascents during the 1980s on some of the most famous and treacherous terrain in West Virginia. Mike Varlotta of Pittsburgh, a climber for 25 years who befriended Swoager a year ago, said Swoager pioneered new routes on Seneca Rocks and New River Gorge that are now considered world-class climbing destinations.

“All climbers knew Cal Swoager,” Varlotta said. ” He was the stuff of legends.”

Varolotta said Swoager pushed the limits and explored “the absolute hardest routes” that others later followed. Swoager retired from climbing for a while and became a pastor, but returned to the sport five or six years ago.

Varlotta said his “legendary” status from his extreme climbing style in the 1980s transformed into a mentoring role that made any climber feel special, regardless of their talent level.

“For someone who would achieve such an elite status, he was so down to the earth and so humble that it felt special to me. He became this ambassador,” Varlotta said. “His legend is those ascents, but in his later years, it’s the really kind, generous man who would help anyone and share advice.”

The climbing community is now grappling with the loss of a leader in their sport.

Brady, president of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Rock Climbers Coalition, spoke to Swoager briefly Sunday before they parted ways to climb, and said the loss will sting for those who knew him.

“It was great seeing him come out again,” Brady said. “I would say he’s got this mythical status for us, but everyone he met he was interested in their story and what they climbed. Just a really good guy.”