Lumpy Ridge Rescue - Rock Climbing Skiing Rocky Mountain National Park RMNP

Lumpy Ridge Rescue

A 17yr. old Estes local was rescued on Jan. 16th by the NPS while stuck on a free-solo of a 200' cliff at Lumpy Ridge. teenager rescued

Teenager Rescued on the Twin Owls at Lumpy Ridge

(from NPS Releases and News Media)

Friday January 23rd, 2009

Lumpy Ridge, Estes Park, CO — A 17-year-old female resident of the town of Estes Park was rescued on the evening of Friday, January 16th on the Twin Owls Rock Formation in the Lumpy Ridge area of Rocky Mountain National Park. The teenager became stranded while climbing with a group of friends, but without safety equipment, her friends were unable to assist her and so they contacted authorities, according to a National Park Service press release.

Authorities from Rocky Mountain National Park were alerted to the situation by the victims friends at approx. 5:30pm. Assistance from the Estes Park Fire Department was required to spotlight the lower Twin Owls area where the stranded teenager was found part-way up a tenuous "5th class route", referred to as the Organ Pipes.

This well-documented route is rated a "5.7 " on the technical rock rating system and it is normally ascended with the safety of back-up ropes, 'belays', and rock protection.

The 17-year-old girl was stuck about 200 feet above the ground and being unable to move up or down, and with her teammates unable to affect her situation, the rescue was instead performed by NPS rangers as well as members of the Estes Park Volunteer Fire Department, the Estes Park Police Department and the Estes Park Medical Center.

NPS Rangers were positioned above the stranded teenager by approx. 7:10 p.m. and they were quickly able to use climbing equipment and a rescue ranger to lower her to safety.

Once on the ground, the teenager returned to the trailhead with the assistance of National Park Service Staff.

The route, 'Organ Pipes' is a 70m long, 5.7 rated rock route, and if that's what they were really free soloing together and the rest of her party finished the task, then it is very possible that they are members of a local climbing team or gym where they learned something about climbing movement, if not safety as this climb is no 'beginner scramble'.

If they were indeed climbing-gym kids, this would be a risky proposition at best without protection or back-up on a steep, somewhat insecure climb. Luckily no one was seriously injured or killed in this case. National Park Rangers considered this a 'life-saving case'.

The name of the teenager was not released as she was a minor at the time of this incident.

twin owls lumpy ridge
The S. Face of the Twin Owls at Lumpy Ridge, Colorado.
The teenagers were 'scrambling' just below the left-hand prow in this photo which is the outside edge of the 'Wolf's Tooth".

steve johnson twin owls lumpy ridge
Steve Johnson cranking on 'Condones' (12b), Twin Owls.

tigers tooth
Steve getting some action on the Tiger's Tooth (10), Twin Owls.

Eli 'blogs': This looks to be another case of a non-climber (and friends) going into technical rock terrain without the use of safety equipment, training, or apparently a good idea in regard to their own risk management. The local news articles used the word 'climber' more than 20 times to describe this individual who was not known to be carrying using any climbing equipment at the time of the rescue.

Although the NPS rarely charges rescuees for the cost of their rescue, I believe this is an instance where the offending party (and friends) should bare the cost of bringing all of these people and agencies out to save them from their own foolish mistakes.

How will these individuals effectively learn from their mistakes and the risk to life they required of others, especially if they are only sent home with just a 'slap on the wrist'?

Login Form