My wife lost both of her ski poles on the top of the emperor face of Torres’s peak on May 30th, 2025. She tumbled 600 feet and luckily I was able to self arrest before going over a large cliff. She was heli evacuated last night and she’s gonna have a full recovery.
If anyone happens to come across two black diamond ski poles-one with a whippet attachment- please let me know.
Thanks !
Lost ski poles on Torray’s peak
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ianaltman
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nyker
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Re: Lost ski poles on Torray’s peak
After reading the first line, wasn't sure how this was going to end. ...it's not often you see "tumbled 600 feet" and "luckily" in the same sentence.
Glad you're both ok. Just out of curiosity, can you elaborate more on how this played out? Seems like it was a harrowing event...
Glad you're both ok. Just out of curiosity, can you elaborate more on how this played out? Seems like it was a harrowing event...
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Wildernessjane
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Re: Lost ski poles on Torray’s peak
I saw the post on Alpine Rescue Team’s Facebook page. Glad to hear she is going to be okay. I bet that was absolutely terrifying to witness. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AmUXE ... tid=wwXIfr
“Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.” -David McCullough?
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ianaltman
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Re: Lost ski poles on Torray’s peak
Thanks everyone for your concern! Here is a report on our experience yesterday that I’ve been sharing with family and friends. And I honestly could care less about the polls., it just gave me something to do today while we were in hospital.
I’m going to keep her name out of it for obvious reasons.
“****” fell over 600’ on the Emperor face of Torreys peak yesterday . She lost control on her third turn and tumbled down the 50+ degree entree slope and quickly picked up momentum. She rocketed by me going so fast that I couldn’t stop it and I watched in terror as she tumble through the rocks and steep snow below me.
After ten or so seconds of falling she luckily caught her left ski and ski boot on a rock which slowed her down enough that she could self-arrest just 50 feet above a cliff. I got to her in 20-30 seconds( longest of my life ! ) and assessed her injuries which were abrasions and contusions to the upper right side of her face and a severely broken ankle and lower tib/fib. After doing initial assessments I knew right away we’d have to get a full evac so I called 911 to begin the process.
We then spent six hours dug into the steep slope at exactly 13,600’. I was able to dig us a barricade from wind and potential rockfall where we we could huddle for warmth.
There were so many things that could’ve gone so wrong that day that went right! I had good cell service and a radio to communicate with the SAR team . In addition, there were two fellas ascending the slope below us who got to us within the first 10 minutes . One of them was an ICU nurse that could help clear her spine and further assess for other injuries while I was talking with EMS. They finally plucked her off the face last night at 6:30 with a massive helicopter.
I’m so thankful that she will be Ok. We had some lucky stars in our sky yesterday and I feel so grateful for the learning we’ll both gained from this! And we have some incredible search and rescue here on the front range!! Please support them!
I’m going to keep her name out of it for obvious reasons.
“****” fell over 600’ on the Emperor face of Torreys peak yesterday . She lost control on her third turn and tumbled down the 50+ degree entree slope and quickly picked up momentum. She rocketed by me going so fast that I couldn’t stop it and I watched in terror as she tumble through the rocks and steep snow below me.
After ten or so seconds of falling she luckily caught her left ski and ski boot on a rock which slowed her down enough that she could self-arrest just 50 feet above a cliff. I got to her in 20-30 seconds( longest of my life ! ) and assessed her injuries which were abrasions and contusions to the upper right side of her face and a severely broken ankle and lower tib/fib. After doing initial assessments I knew right away we’d have to get a full evac so I called 911 to begin the process.
We then spent six hours dug into the steep slope at exactly 13,600’. I was able to dig us a barricade from wind and potential rockfall where we we could huddle for warmth.
There were so many things that could’ve gone so wrong that day that went right! I had good cell service and a radio to communicate with the SAR team . In addition, there were two fellas ascending the slope below us who got to us within the first 10 minutes . One of them was an ICU nurse that could help clear her spine and further assess for other injuries while I was talking with EMS. They finally plucked her off the face last night at 6:30 with a massive helicopter.
I’m so thankful that she will be Ok. We had some lucky stars in our sky yesterday and I feel so grateful for the learning we’ll both gained from this! And we have some incredible search and rescue here on the front range!! Please support them!
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Wildernessjane
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Re: Lost ski poles on Torray’s peak
Thanks for sharing. It’s pretty notable that she was actually able to stop herself with a whippet. You were both so fortunate but I know this sort of experience can leave you feeling pretty rattled. This episode of the Sharp End was helpful for me after witnessing a friend fall 20-30 feet at Eldo and break her neck (it was the third “near miss” I had witnessed firsthand and fortunately she recovered fully): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t ... 0422994798
“Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.” -David McCullough?
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mitchellskis27
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Re: Lost ski poles on Torray’s peak
Glad it worked out. Scary.
