Mountain climber’s shoes freeze solid, stranding him on Colorado peak, rescuers say
A climber became stranded on a Colorado mountain when his shoes froze solid, rescuers said.
He had set out to climb the Mount Bierstadt the morning of Friday, Dec. 13, and told his father to call 911 if he hadn’t contacted him by 8 p.m., the Alpine Rescue Team said on Facebook.
The climber’s father notified rescuers that the climber was overdue just after 8 p.m., and a team of rescuers started searching from the top of Guanella Pass, the group said.
Around midnight a team near a creek crossing noticed a flashing light about a mile north on the mountain and headed toward it, reaching the climber’s location at about 1 a.m., rescuers said. Photos show the light shining on the mountain.
“He was unable to move as his shoes had frozen solid,” the group said.
The rescue team started rewarming his feet, then belayed him to the ground, rescuers said. They hiked and skied the rest of the way out with him and made it out after 3 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
Then around 1 p.m. Dec. 14, the team said it responded to an avalanche that had buried an unknown number of people on Berthoud Pass.
As the team started the rescue mission, Alpine operations was able to reach the people who had triggered the slide and learned one of them had been partially buried but was able to free themselves, the group said. The team stood down.
The two incidents highlighted important safety reminders about winter recreation in Colorado’s backcountry, rescuers said.
“Always share your plans and a cutoff time with someone not going on the trip,” rescuers said. “Without knowing to call 911, our subject’s father may not have notified the team in time.”
Rescuers also reminded climbers to pack extra layers in case clothing gets wet and to bring a light source.
“Had our subject not had a light source it’s unlikely he would have been able to signal the team,” rescuers said.
When it comes to avalanches, witnesses should treat it as though they witnessed a car accident and call 911 to report what you saw and whether emergency responders are required, rescuers said. The person who reported the avalanche “did the right thing by calling, but was unable to share details that could have kept responders free for other incidents.”
“Remember that winter recreation in Colorado has heightened consequences,” rescuers said. “Be prepared for vastly different conditions and know what to bring and how to use it.”
Guanella Pass is about a 60-mile drive southwest from Denver and about a 30-mile drive south from Berthoud Pass.
This story was originally published December 16, 2024 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Mountain climber’s shoes freeze solid, stranding him on Colorado peak, rescuers say."
