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Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park
Contact: Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer, (970) 586-1363 Contact: General Park Information, (970) 586-1206 On Sunday afternoon, August 20, at 2:45 p.m. park rangers received an emergency call from climbers on the Petit Grepon in Rocky Mountain National Park. One of the climbers, a 28 year old male from Kennesaw, Georgia, sustained a 15 foot fall onto a ledge while climbing. He was approximately 700 feet up the climbing route at an elevation of approximately 12,200 feet in elevation. The man sustained numerous injuries from the blunt force of his fall. He was part of a group of three climbers.Shortly thereafter, the man was assisted by five climbers who were not affiliated with his group. They lowered him approximately 600 feet, which greatly assisted with rescue efforts. At 5 p.m. Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue team members arrived on scene and assisted the man down to a ledge approximately 20 feet above the talus slope. The man received advanced medical care from a park paramedic. The man and park search and rescue team members spent the night at that location. On Monday, August 21, at 6:30 a.m. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members, assisted by Rocky Mountain Rescue, conducted an approximate 1000 foot technical rope lower over the steep talus slope between the base of the Petit Grepon and Sky Pond. At approximately 10:15 a.m. the man was flown from Sky Pond (10,950 feet) by Flight For Life Air Ambulance to Boulder Community Hospital. |
Last updated: August 23, 2017