Mountain Project Logo

Woman Dies On Sawtooth Ridge 6/25/2011

Original Post
Ryko · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 30

Some sad news to pass on. I received a press release at work about a woman falling to her death from the Sawtooth Ridge. Here's the story:

thedenverchannel.com/news/2…

Eldorado Canyon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 0

We heard the call for mutual aid this afternoon and were wondering what happened. Very sad. Our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, and hope that the recovery goes safely.

- The Eldo Rangers

Dave Swink · · Boulder, Co · Joined Jun 2007 · Points: 285

We left the Guanella Pass trailhead for the summit of Mount Bierstadt at 2:40 PM yesterday. It was a beautiful day in the mountains but I was uneasy when I noticed a helicopter in the vicinity of Mount Spaulding and Mount Evans. Everyone we met on the hike up seemed to be well and unconcerned so we just enjoyed the climb.

Mount Bierstadt is near to summertime condition with little snow remaining. We could see that there was very little snow on the exposed part of the Sawtooth Ridge traverse.

We are very sad to hear of the accident and offer our condolences to the young lady's family.

Jim Amidon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2001 · Points: 850

Did you really start out to climb at 14teener at almost 3 pm ???

When most almost fatal lightning strikes occur between 2-5pm ???

Really ????

Really ???

Dave Swink · · Boulder, Co · Joined Jun 2007 · Points: 285

Jim,

I am believe I am cautious regarding lightning in the mountains. That is not the same thing as avoiding climbing in the afternoon, though. There was no precip or thunderstorms in the forecast, although certainly that is no guarantee.

I am not a "summit fever" climber and I readily turn around at the threat of thunderstorms. We kept a careful watch on the weather as we climbed. Bierstadt is a relatively easy and short hike that we could have retreated from quickly. We are fairly quick hikers, summiting in an hour and forty minutes and back at the car in two an a half hours.

Climbing involves judgement calls in almost every aspect. Your decisions may be different, of course.

Dave

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

sad to hear this!
it looked to be in ok condition on the traverse..(from what i could see)

and btw, what does lightning have to do with this?
there was no danger the last few days. start whenever you want..

condolences,
c

Robbie Flick · · Baltimore, MD · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 17

We were climbing the second apron when we heard the sirens making their way up to the top. Shortly thereafter a large orange rescue helicopter started making slowly expanding circles around Mt. Evans.

We were prepared to help out, but by the time we summited it appeared the incident had been taken care of.

On our way out, we also saw an alpine rescue crew in a field to the right of the road shortly before summit lake - not sure if that was an unrelated incident or not.

My condolences to the family. Quite sad.

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

To follow up from the one report, while Bierstadt may be close to summertime conditions coming in from Guanellas, and it might appear that the Sawtooth from the one vantage looks pretty doable as a hike and an easy scramble, where the accident occurred is still in a serious mountaineering-type of snow condition. These conditions would seem uncharacteristic as to the summertime warmth of the year while out hiking, but the dangers are still present just the same even though we don't have the glacial crevasse type terrain.

I would say probably to go into the high peaks in the front range area with a mountaineering mindset for any of the exposed and semi-technical routes at this time.

Mark Wyss · · Denver, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 255
Jim Amidon wrote:Did you really start out to climb at 14teener at almost 3 pm ??? When most almost fatal lightning strikes occur between 2-5pm ??? Really ???? Really ???
Classy
Robbie Flick · · Baltimore, MD · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 17

FYI - some info on where she fell courtesy of alpine rescue: goo.gl/mn93K

justin dubois · · Estes Park · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 525

Sorry to the fam. RIP

Jim Amidon wrote:Did you really start out to climb at 14teener at almost 3 pm ??? When most almost fatal lightning strikes occur between 2-5pm ??? Really ???? Really ???
NOT the place for your interjections Jim. Can it.
Ryko · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 30

Just got off the phone with Clear Creek Sheriff's Office. The woman has been identified as 50-year-old Mary Elizabeth Bowles of Golden, Colo.

My deepest regrets to her friends and family.

Bang Nhan · · Charlottesville, VA · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 35

Was she having proper gears on or just a normal hiker? The article did nto clarify that.

David Appelhans · · Broomfield, CO · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 410
Bang wrote:Was she having proper gears on or just a normal hiker? The article did nto clarify that.
You don't need proper gears, it is just a hike.
Wally · · Denver · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

Just a hike? Are you sure, David?

I wouldn't want to be on the Sawtooth without a good pair of mountaineering boots and an ice axe, and the knowledge of how to safely travel steep exposed snow slopes / ridges with an ice axe.

Condolences.

Wally

TILLEYdoes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 0

Condolences to the family of the fallen. Having done the sawtooth traverse this year, I worry that perhaps the party encountered more snow than they were prepared for. The late snow made conditions on the ridge more precarious than normal, although I do not know how much remains.

Gregger Man · · Broomfield, CO · Joined Aug 2004 · Points: 1,759

Before I had any mountaineering experience or gear, a buddy and I hiked across that ridge. I pulled the stays out of my backpack to use as makeshift picks in the slushy snow. Wasn't a smart move, and I could have easily become a statistic if either foot had slipped.
Sorry to hear it.

David Appelhans · · Broomfield, CO · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 410
Wally wrote:Just a hike? Are you sure, David? I wouldn't want to be on the Sawtooth without a good pair of mountaineering boots and an ice axe, and the knowledge of how to safely travel steep exposed snow slopes / ridges with an ice axe. Condolences. Wally
This is a tragic accident. I didn't mean any disrespect to the woman or her family. Quite the opposite in fact, I am saying in my mind she wasn't making a mistake by not having a rope and climbing protection along. The traverse is a class III scramble in snowy terrain with deadly fall potential. It is not a route where she should have had climbing gear and didn't, which is how I interpreted Bang's question. To me she appears to have been a hiker doing a reasonable thing that resulted in a sad accident, not a hiker lacking "proper gear" for a technical route.
Bang Nhan · · Charlottesville, VA · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 35

My bad! I should have specified what "proper gear" means! Yeah I was wondering if crampons and ice axes were needed other than jsut a pai of normal hiking shoes.

RIP

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

This was a hiking accident.

Wally pretty much relayed the lesson to be learned when typical summertime scrambling terrain is found to be an endeavor in mountaineering. The unfortunate thing about this was that they recognized the objective hazard but after committing to the situation. They were in a plan for retreat, however the accident occurred regardless.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Injuries and Accidents
Post a Reply to "Woman Dies On Sawtooth Ridge 6/25/2011"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.