January 15, 2012; Rescuers evacuating an injured climber off the
Second Flatiron. Rescuers use
scree evacuation
technique pulling against a lowering rope while progressing downhill. Boulder city lights
in the background.
The climber fell and landed on a ledge, in the upper area of the
Freeway route. Rescuers lowered the injured party about 500' down the broken,
unseasonably dry,
face of the Second Flatiron to the base of the cliff. From there, the
evacuation followed 1/2 mile of icy access trails to the Bluebell Shelter, and
transferred the climber to a waiting ambulance.
The evacuation required about five hours.
This was first of two soloing climber falls in the Flatirons that day. Evacuations
of both climbers took place concurrently, although the evacuation of the second
party from the base of the
Southwest Face of the
First Flatiron was completed first, due to less technical terrain.
The cause of both falls is unknown, however helmets and climbing safety equipment were
not being used by either climber at the time of their falls. Big thanks to
Alpine Rescue Team
and several by-stander climbers who assisted with patient care and the evacuation.
Boulder County
press release for these incidents.
