Climber Rescued After 15- Foot Fall In Rocky Mountain National Park, CO | Air Flight Rescue 20 Hours Later

A climber fell 15 Feet onto a ledge and was injured on the Petit Grepon, a popular climb in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado on Sunday.

Fellow climbers and rescuers worked for nearly 20 hours to lower the injured climber to a safe location.  They worked overnight in difficult terrain to get the climber on to a Flight for Life Air Ambulance the next morning.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Press Release, August 23, 2017:

Man Rescued From Petit Grepon In Rocky Mountain National Park

“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.”

The Petit Grepon

A highly rated, popular climb with a 4.6 mile approach hike, is part of the Cathedral Spires of Rocky Mountain National Park.

“In Rocky Mountain National Park, a beautiful spire of rock overlooks Sky Pond in Loch Vale and stands at 12,001 ft high – the Petit Grepon! Part of the Cathedral Spires group, the Petit Grepon’s classic route winds its way up the South Face in eight pitches with a 5.8 rating (most of the climb is 5.7 or easier with a short 5.8 crux).” – Colorado Mounatin School