Two men rescued from summit of Longs Peak

Rocky Mountain National Park rangers rescued two men from the summit of Longs Peak this weekend.

According to a Feb. 9 press release from the park, rangers were contacted late Friday night, Feb. 6, by two male climbers on Kiener’s Route requesting assistance.

This route ascends the east face of the 14,259 foot mountain, climbing parallel to the Diamond on the left. To access the route, mountaineers hike from the Long’s Peak trailhead until they reach the cutoff for Chasm Lake. In the winter, it is a mixed-style route that requires ascending technical rock and snow.

The 47- and 50-year-old climbers were located at approximately 14,000 feet. They reported they were incapacitated, unable to continue their route, and had not planned to remain overnight, the release stated.

Rangers maintained communication with the climbers overnight. On early Saturday morning, rangers initiated rescue operations. Two Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue teams, along with members of Larimer County Search and Rescue, began hiking toward the Longs Peak area.

Air operations were limited due to high winds. A U.S. Forest Service helicopter attempted a flight but was forced to abort due to wind conditions; a Flight For Life helicopter was also ordered but later stood down for the same reason.

Through established partnerships with Colorado Search and Rescue, additional resources were requested from the Colorado National Guard Army Aviation support facility at Buckley Space Force Base.

A Chinook helicopter with flight crew, along with rescuers from Alpine Rescue and Rocky Mountain Rescue, landed on the summit of Longs Peak at approximately 2:15 p.m. The climbers, who had moved to the summit, were located, and flown to Upper Beaver Meadows Road within Rocky Mountain National Park.

Park rangers remind visitors that winter conditions can persist in the high country even when overall snowpack is below-average. Those recreating in alpine environments should plan ahead and be prepared for ice, snow, high winds, and subzero temperatures.