JACKSON - A prominent member of the Wyoming climbing community died Wednesday after apparently falling during a solo climb with a rope in Sinks Canyon near Lander.

Jim Ratz, 52, former executive director of the National Outdoor Leadership School and co-owner of Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, was pronounced dead at the scene on a rock face across from the Sawmill Campground on State Highway 131 in Lander.

John Gans, executive director of NOLS, said news of Ratz's death hit the outdoor school hard.

"Overall, Jim was a key part of the school," he said. Some employees worked directly with him, and others knew of his work and tenure with NOLS.

Ratz lived in Lander with his wife, Lantien Chu, and two children, Mei and Willy.

"The NOLS community is small, and Lander is small," Gans said. "At times like this, we know the family, and it really has hit hard."

According to Sgt. Jerry Evagelatos of the sheriff's office, the agency received a call at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday about an accident on Sinks Canyon Road.

"The call came in of a climber who had fallen," Evagelatos said. He said the coroner pronounced Ratz dead at the scene.

Evagelatos said two groups of climbers met in the area at about 1 p.m. Wednesday and planned to meet up later in the day. When Ratz did not show up at 5 p.m., the group went looking for him. When he was found, CPR was administered, but it was unsuccessful, Evagelatos said.

Reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@mail.trib.com.