By John Cordsen of the Estes Park Trail Gazette And Press Reports
ESTES PARK, Colo. —
High winds were blamed for a fall suffered by a 57-year-old Loveland
man who spent nearly 24 hours trapped near the base of Ptarmigan
Glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park. Sterling Jordan was discovered
Tuesday morning at the base of the glacier near Notchtop Couloir by two
backcountry skiers.
Park officials say Jordan fell approximately 50 feet about mid-day
Monday while mountaineering alone in the area. Jordan told rangers he
believed high winds were behind his fall and not an avalanche as first
thought. Rangers encountered sustained winds of 70 to 75 mph during the
rescue operation.
The two skiers discovered Jordan around 11 a.m. Monday at the base
of the glacier located approximately five miles from the Bear Lake
trailhead. They contacted park dispatch via cell phone at approximately
11:45 a.m.
A hasty team of two rangers reached the victim at 3:30 p.m. He was
conscious but suffering from numerous injuries. Additional rangers
responded. The decision was made to carry the victim out because of his
location above timberline at nearly 11,000 feet in altitude and the
high winds that made a helicopter extraction impossible. Park rangers
began bringing the patient out with a wheeled litter at 6:30 p.m.
Rangers reached the Bear Lake trailhead at 10:30 p.m. Thirteen park
staff members were involved in the rescue. Park officials say terrain
conditions snow/slush contributed to the time it took to bring the
victim to the trailhead. Jordan was taken by ambulance to Estes Park
Medical Center and later transferred to Medical Center of the Rockies.
Officials say the two skiers more than likely saved Jordan’ life.
The victim was alone and he had not been reported as overdue. The two
male skiers saw the Jordan from a distance but initially assumed he was
part of the rocky terrain until they got nearer. The two men moved
Jordan from the avalanche prone terrain and rendered aid, giving him
warm clothing, fluids and food. They stayed with Jordan until further
help arrived.
An
injured, 57-year-old mountaineer from Loveland was forced to spend
Monday night at 11,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park after he
fell on a glacier.
The man, who suffered extensive injuries in a tumbling fall
down the Ptarmigan Glacier near Notchtop Couloir, was spotted late
Tuesday morning by two backcountry skiers, who managed a cell-phone
call to authorities. They wrapped him in warm clothing and gave him
fluids and food, very likely saving his life, authorities said. The
victim, whose identity has not been released, has remained conscious.
Officials said he had been lying at the base of the glacier for 24
hours when the two backcountry skiers found him.
By late Tuesday afternoon, winds at the scene were clocked at 75
mph, preventing a helicopter rescue. Approximately 13 park rangers and volunteers are
currently evacuating the man on a litter.
His location was approximately five miles from the Bear Lake
Trailhead. Park rangers estimated the evacuation will take many hours
because of the terrain and the poor snow conditions.
Eli Notes: A spot satellite device can be a good idea for the solo climber or skier
and I bought one this year to carry on my guided and personal
trips as it can be a reliable and economical tool just in case "the
shit hits the fan".
Avalanche conditions in the region of the
Ptarmigan Glacier are in the CONSIDERABLE range at the moment on lee loaded slopes and an ascent on these snow covered slopes should be carefully
considered as there is abundant new snow and slab avalanche potential due to new snow and significant wind loading.
Based on the
location and difficult conditions at the moment, it could be 12hr. rescue for the ranger team and injured climber to reach the trailhead. Best
of luck to all involved!
A map of this area is shown below. Scroll further down for a photo of the Ptarmigan Glacier area.
