PRELIMINARY: At approximately 9 AM 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. The female suffered minor injuries. 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. The deceased climber was found Sunday afternoon by rescuers using a RECCO detector and probe poles.
Several agencies assisted Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue team, including Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Flight for Life, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Front Range Rescue Dogs, Colorado National Guard, and Med Evac.
The CAIC will publish a final avalanche accident report when Rocky Mountain National Park has completed their accident investigation.