The latest incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 1st when a 53-year-old Glen Ellyn, Ill. man took a 25-foot tumbling fall in the "Trough" area of Longs Peak. The first incident occurred July 24 when a 64-year-old Estes Park man fell approximately 12 feet while descending through the same area after summiting Longs Peak. The latest victim had to spend the night on the west slope of Longs Peak until rescuers could reach him.

The Sept. 1 fall occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. when the victim and his son, who is in his mid 20s, had climbed to the summit of Longs Peak and were descending. The man suffered numerous injuries including a leg injury and numerous bruises and abrasions. According to park officials, bystanders tried calling for assistance around 5:30 p.m. on cell phones, but the calls were dropped, and park dispatch was only able to hear a hiker was in duress near the "Trough."

The two men had camped on Monday night and were planning to camp Tuesday night at a backcountry campsite at the Boulderfield. Not knowing whether park rangers had been contacted, the son hiked down to their camping gear and hiked back up, bringing a sleeping bag, first aid kit, food and water to his father. He then proceeded to hike down to the Longs Peak Trailhead.

Two rangers, responding to the earlier calls, met the son on the trail at 8:30 p.m. last night, roughly two miles from the trailhead. At first light Wednesday morning, they hiked through the "Ledges" to the injured man, reaching him at 6 a.m. Two teams of rangers, as well as a paramedic with the Estes Park Medical Center, left Longs Peak Trailhead at 3 a.m. and at 5 a.m. to support the two rangers on scene.

With assistance from the initial two rangers the man was able to move slowly to the Keyhole area. The man was flown from the Boulderfield (around 12,760 feet) at 10:30 a.m. Wedneday morning by St. Anthony`s Lifeguard One to Medical Center of the Rockies.