Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain National
Forum rules
- This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
- Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
- Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
- Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
- atalarico
- Posts: 542
- Joined: 9/20/2009
- 14ers: 16 2
- 13ers: 22
- Trip Reports (5)
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
I'm wondering about the Andrews Glacier incident. There's a lot of great alpine climbing up there and it sounds like they might have been coming down from that. =(
- Brian C
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: 2/26/2008
- 14ers: 45 5
- 13ers: 19
- Trip Reports (25)
- Contact:
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
We saw this guy making a bee-line over Flattop yesterday in the general direction of Lumpy. I wondered what was going on. RIP.
- ChrisRoberts
- Posts: 620
- Joined: 7/17/2011
- 14ers: 12
- 13ers: 10
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
Yeah with so little snowpack and lots of warm temperatures this summer, Andrews is probably a lot less friendly than usual in mid July. I'm guessing ice is already showing. RIP
Brian are you going to write a TR for Notchtop?
Brian are you going to write a TR for Notchtop?
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 4/26/2011
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
I was up at Andrews glacier last week and I was surprised to see so many people glissading down from the Divide. I saw a family of three (adult and two teenagers) sliding down, and none had an ice axe for self-arrest, although the adult had trekking poles, the two teenagers were using their hands to slide down. Later in the day i saw more people glissading down the glacier during a lightning storm. I think people do not realize that what they are sliding down is an actual glacier with crevasses and large boulders.
Sad to hear about that guy though.
Sad to hear about that guy though.
- atalarico
- Posts: 542
- Joined: 9/20/2009
- 14ers: 16 2
- 13ers: 22
- Trip Reports (5)
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
I was wondering that. I hear the term "glacier" get thrown around in Colorado, but my understanding was that there aren't any bone fide glaciers left in the state, just permanent snow fields. True? I only wondered this as some friends and I were looking to take out FOTH and practice glacier rescue and travel techniques.mikem0687 wrote: I think people do not realize that what they are sliding down is an actual glacier with crevasses and large boulders.
- Brian C
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: 2/26/2008
- 14ers: 45 5
- 13ers: 19
- Trip Reports (25)
- Contact:
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
There are a few but they're small and generally don't have crevasses. Here's a shot I took yesterday of the crevasse on Tyndall Glacier in RMNP opening up. Fair Glacier in the IPW can open up to block passage late in the season too.atalarico wrote:I was wondering that. I hear the term "glacier" get thrown around in Colorado, but my understanding was that there aren't any bone fide glaciers left in the state, just permanent snow fields. True? I only wondered this as some friends and I were looking to take out FOTH and practice glacier rescue and travel techniques.mikem0687 wrote: I think people do not realize that what they are sliding down is an actual glacier with crevasses and large boulders.
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
There are some thing in Colorado called glaciers that are really just snowfields (i.e. St Marys Glacier), but there are genuine small glaciers or glacierettes. There are (usually small) crevasses in the glaciers as well. Fair Glacier, for example sometimes has a rather (by Colorado standards) large one.I hear the term "glacier" get thrown around in Colorado, but my understanding was that there aren't any bone fide glaciers left in the state, just permanent snow fields. True?
Some "rock glaciers" in Colorado (and neighboring states) may actually be actual glaciers, but buried under rocks and talus. Examples of such possible rock covered glaciers are The Dove on Longs Peak and the Timp Glacier on Mount Timpanogos (UT). Sometimes most or all the surface snow/ice melts, but there may be glacial ice buried under the talus.
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
- Dave B
- Posts: 2401
- Joined: 6/14/2010
- Trip Reports (9)
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
I've heard that the Arapaho glacier is a true glacier (i.e. flowing). Of course it's the only one climbers aren't allowed on.atalarico wrote:I was wondering that. I hear the term "glacier" get thrown around in Colorado, but my understanding was that there aren't any bone fide glaciers left in the state, just permanent snow fields. True? I only wondered this as some friends and I were looking to take out FOTH and practice glacier rescue and travel techniques.mikem0687 wrote: I think people do not realize that what they are sliding down is an actual glacier with crevasses and large boulders.
Make wilderness less accessible.
- jsdratm
- Posts: 459
- Joined: 6/26/2011
- 14ers: 24 2
- 13ers: 40
- Trip Reports (4)
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
Last year when I was out at Andrews Glacier to try out my ice axe and crampons, I also saw people going up without any kind of traction or ice axe. It was very icy and slippery, plus very steep, so I wouldn't want to mess about on it. Even with my crampons I felt a bit uncomfortable since it was my first glacier hike.mikem0687 wrote:I was up at Andrews glacier last week and I was surprised to see so many people glissading down from the Divide. I saw a family of three (adult and two teenagers) sliding down, and none had an ice axe for self-arrest, although the adult had trekking poles, the two teenagers were using their hands to slide down. Later in the day i saw more people glissading down the glacier during a lightning storm. I think people do not realize that what they are sliding down is an actual glacier with crevasses and large boulders.
Sad to hear about that guy though.
-
- Posts: 47
- Joined: 9/4/2007
- 14ers: 58
- 13ers: 88
- Trip Reports (4)
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
On Tuesday I did a snow climb with my friend Wayne of the Middle Ptarmigan Finger on N Face of Flattop Mtn (my first one over 50 degrees!) then ascended Otis Peak. We then descended Andrews Glacier measured at 30-35 degrees. There were many people glissading including families although none moved too fast as the snow was pretty mushy around 12:30pmish. We were the only ones with ice axes though. Very sad about this tragedy.
Beth
"Wherever you go, there you are..."
"Wherever you go, there you are..."
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
Andrews Glacier is typically around 20-25 degrees. Hump in the center a bit steeper. I've been up and down it a few times, just microspikes going up, and didn't think it was a big deal, but this dry winter/low snowpack may have exposed some spots. I've heard of crevasses showing there in low snow years like 2002, but haven't seen any.
Usually there's a good runout and you don't slide for long.
Usually there's a good runout and you don't slide for long.
- Mark A Steiner
- Posts: 1006
- Joined: 4/14/2008
- 14ers: 3
- 13ers: 11
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Fatality among multiple incidents in Rocky Mountain Nati
As long as there are suggestions the ice is moving, such as bergschrund, crevasses and terminal moraines, the term "glacier" will suffice. For others, the term icefield or stagnant icefield are sufficient.Scott P wrote:There are some thing in Colorado called glaciers that are really just snowfields (i.e. St Marys Glacier), but there are genuine small glaciers or glacierettes. There are (usually small) crevasses in the glaciers as well. Fair Glacier, for example sometimes has a rather (by Colorado standards) large one.I hear the term "glacier" get thrown around in Colorado, but my understanding was that there aren't any bone fide glaciers left in the state, just permanent snow fields. True?
Some "rock glaciers" in Colorado (and neighboring states) may actually be actual glaciers, but buried under rocks and talus. Examples of such possible rock covered glaciers are The Dove on Longs Peak and the Timp Glacier on Mount Timpanogos (UT). Sometimes most or all the surface snow/ice melts, but there may be glacial ice buried under the talus.
Rock glaciers are prodigious in the San Juans as well. They will form when the supply of frozen precipitation needed to maintain the ice is reduced or cut off. Also, glacial wastage beneath the rocks will take place of there are geothermal issues in the area, and a glacier slowly wastes in that manner.
That aside, I am sorry for what has happened on Andrews Glacier. Condolences to the hiker's loved ones.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content - Paul the Apostle.
Like it or not, I am a slow driver. Putt ... putt ... putt ...
Good day.
Like it or not, I am a slow driver. Putt ... putt ... putt ...
Good day.