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Colorado Climber Falls 500 Feet To Her Death In Rocky Mountain National Park

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Published Date

July 11, 2023

A 26-year-old Colorado woman on a free-solo climb on Blitzen Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado died when she fell roughly 500 feet while negotiating a challenging route.

The woman, from Boulder, was on the Four Aces of Blitzen Ridge on Ypsilon Mountain on the east side of the park when she fell Sunday.

A 27-year-old-male climbing partner, also from Boulder, notified park rangers, via cell phone, of her fall. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members were able to reach him Sunday night, according to a park release. Because of his location, the park requested assistance from a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base to rescue him via a hoist operation, using a winch operated cable. He was uninjured.

Early Monday morning Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members hiked to the area above Ypsilon Lake to prepare for a helicopter long-line recovery. The victim’s body was flown by Northern Colorado Interagency Helitak to a helispot in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of the park. Her body was then transferred to the Larimer County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office. The woman’s name was to be released after next of kin were notified.

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Comments

Submitted by Barbara A.Thornley on July 12, 2023 - 6:13pm.

While it is very sad that she didn't survive , it is a risk you choose to take when doing dangerous things. Noone imagines it will happen to them . So sorry to hear she died . I am sure it is very difficult for all her friends and family . 


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