Incident Near Black Lake In Rocky Mountain National Park

Rescue Near Black Lake January 31 2015
Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue personnel assist man to air ambulance.

Courtesy RMNP

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News Release Date: February 1, 2015

Contact: Kyle Patterson, (970) 586-1363

At 12:30 p.m. yesterday, Saturday, January 31, park rangers were notified of a spot tracker device that had been activated. Soon after, rangers received their first 911 call regarding an incident near Black Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.   Fifty-year-old, Jason Brooks, from Wheat Ridge was solo climbing when he reportedly took an approximate 100 foot tumbling fall on to soft snow. Solo climbing means a climb is done unroped. The fall was witnessed by visitors who were at Black Lake. The location was roughly 5.5 miles from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Rangers were on scene 2.5 hours from the initial call.    

Brooks received numerous injuries but was ambulatory and with assistance from rangers was able to move down to an area where an air ambulance was able to land. Flight for Life transported him to Medical Center of the Rockies at 4:15 p.m. 

Fortunately, weather conditions and the location were conducive for assistance from a helicopter. Teams of Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue personnel, assisted by Larimer County Search and Rescue and Rocky Mountain Rescue, were preparing for the potential of a lengthy rescue operation.



Last updated: February 24, 2015

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