Avalanche
News Release Date: May 29, 2022
Contact: Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer, National Park Service
Contact: Park Information Office, (970) 586-1206
At approximately 5:15 p.m. tonight a deceased male was located by searchers who were using a RECCO device and probing in avalanche debris. The recovery operation will be delayed due to winter weather conditions. The ages and hometowns of the three individuals are being withheld until family members are notified.
At 9 a.m. this morning a rockfall and avalanche were reported near the Dreamweaver Couloir on Mt. Meeker. The rockfall and avalanche were witnessed by climbers in the area.
Three individuals were involved in the incident including a female and two males. Due to the location and severity of injuries of one of the males, Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members requested assistance from a Colorado National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base to extricate him via a hoist operation, using a winch operated cable. This occurred at approximately 2 p.m. when there was a brief weather window. Rocky Mountain Rescue assisted with the helicopter hoist operations. The man was flown to Upper Beaver Meadows, transferred to Northern Colorado Med Evac air ambulance and then flown to Medical Center of the Rockies. The female suffered minor injuries and was flown to Upper Beaver Meadows at 4:15 p.m. where she was transferred by ground to further medical care. Rescue teams worked in terrain above 11,500 feet and at times experienced winter-like weather conditions throughout the day.
Several agencies assisted Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue team with this operation including Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Flight for Life, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Front Range Rescue Dogs, Colorado National Guard, and MedEvac.
No further information is available at this time.
The death is the 17th in the US this winter and the 23rd in North America.
