Multiple Northern Colorado agencies conducted a rescue mission of a 27-year-old man who slid and tumbled 100 feet when initiating a snowboard descent of the Skyscraper Glacier North of Rollins Pass. The rescue mission was initiated after Boulder County Communication Center received a report at approximately 2:25 p.m. on Monday, September 8 regarding a man who suffered serious injuries.
Northern Colorado MedEvac airlifted several Rocky Mountain Rescue Group (RMRG) volunteers to a mountain ridge above the snowfield where the man was located. Another team of RMRG volunteers traveled by UTV and foot from Rollins Pass. Grand County Search and Rescue, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, and Grand County EMS went by ATV and foot from Corona Pass.
RMRG members traversed a 300-foot path of glacial snow to reach the injured man and were able to treat his injuries at about 5:45 p.m. Other rescuers on the scene looked for a less hazardous path to uphaul the man. RMRG and Grand County Search and Rescue created an uphaul system and uplifted him to the top of the glacier. From there, he was lifted 50 feet to an eroding ridge and finally transported by MedEvac to a local hospital. This happened at approximately 8:10 p.m.
Rescuers hiked out of the area and the rescue mission officially concluded at 1 a.m. Multiple agencies were involved in the search and rescue effort, including the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County EMS, Northern Colorado MedEvac, and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.
