A snowboarder fell approximately 100 feet while trying to navigate the edge of Colorado’s well-known glacier, leading to a rescue that took more than three hours on Monday.
The 27-year-old, whose name has not been released, took a wrong turn around 2:30 p.m. while attempting to descend the Skyscraper Glacier, a popular snowfield located north of Rollins Pass in Colorado.
Fortunately, his fall was halted when he collided with Bergschlund, a small crevasse formed in the glacier’s ice.
Officials reported that he was seriously injured and inebriated, though specifics about his injuries were not disclosed.
The snowboarder remained stuck in the crevasse until the Colorado Search and Rescue Association, along with support from the state’s National Guard, could reach him at around 5:45 p.m.
Rescuers faced challenges due to a 300-foot stretch of glacial snow that lay between them and the snowboarder.
They equipped him with protective stretchers and rescue baskets before airlifting him from the glacier.
After being rescued, he received essential medical care, even while still in transit.
He was then transported by Medevac helicopter to a nearby hospital around 8:10 p.m.
However, the rest of the rescue team didn’t complete their mission until about 1 a.m. on Tuesday, as they made their way out of the forest.
Colorado, famed for its ski resorts, has experienced numerous snow sports mishaps over the years.
Just last December, over 100 snowboarders and skiers became stranded after a mid-day chairlift failure at Winter Park Resort.
They were left hanging in the air for hours before needing to be lowered back to safety.
Additionally, in January, a seasoned skier was tragically buried in an avalanche on a familiar path at a resort he had frequented for over a decade.
