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Avalanche, Wintry Conditions Complicating Climbing Rescue At Rocky Mountain National Park

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Published Date

May 30, 2022

A break in the weather Sunday afternoon allowed rescuers to remove an injured climber from Mount Meeker in Rocky Mountain National Park. (This is a webcam shot of Longs Peak)/NPS

Wintry conditions in Colorado on Sunday were complicating a rescue in the high country of Rocky Mountain National Park, where an avalanche and rockfall came down on three climbers, with one of the three still missing late in the afternoon.

The incident at about 11,500 feet was reported around 9 a.m. MT near the Dreamweaver Couloir on Mount Meeker, which climbs 13,916 feet above sea level. The rockfall and avalanche were witnessed by climbers in the area. 

A woman among the three suffered minor injuries and remained on the scene, while one of her colleagues was flown off the mountain by a Colorado National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base. The third climber was still missing in the area where the avalanche occurred.

The injured male climber was rescued at approximately 2 p.m. when there was a brief weather window. The man, who was hoisted into the helicopter, was flown to Upper Beaver Meadows, transferred to Northern Colorado Med Evac air ambulance, and then flown to Medical Center of the Rockies. 

The rescuers were struggling with winter weather brought into the region by a moist cold front that brought heavy snow to upper elevations of the park at times.

Further information was not immediately available.


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