Climber holds on with one hand and calls 911 with the other

Free climber Thomas Perry discovered he'd picked the wrong line, and was perched on a 20-inch ledge 260 feet up the side of a mountain with no rope. Suddenly, 911 was no joke.

After realizing he was in an impossible position, Perry phoned rescue services. Will Roper, a climber experienced with Mount Yonah and rappelling down mountainsides, made a daring rescue. After retrieving Perry, he joked: "Have you been rescued before? You're pretty good at this."

Sometimes knowing when to call for help is the most important climbing skill.

Previously:
• How one climber's false summit claim helped turn K2 into a graveyard
• The mountain where climbers stop short of the summit on purpose
• K2 climber catches awesome footage of an avalanche headed straight for his tent (video)