Eolus Accident

[MaryinColorado]

I am so deeply sorry for your loss, and I hope some folks in the community may lend some additional closure based on their experiences.

It sounds like Emily was delightfully tenacious and vivacious. You will carry that with you wherever you go; that is how she lives on. Wishing you love, light, and healing in the weeks and months ahead as you adjust to life looking and feeling different without her.

[daway8]

Unfortunately, this was my sister, Emily, she was 29 years old. I've been watching climbing videos on Eolus and trying to figure out what happened but this Facebook post sums up most of what I know. A few added notes is she fell around 100-150ft and died within seconds from a head injury and her body slid another 400 ft. They found her at these coordinates 37.62213 /-107.61904. I know she did meet and talk to a few other hikers in the area but was alone during this peak. If anyone has any other info or theories about what/where it happened I would like to hear them.

She hiked 29 14ers (including Snowmass the week before this happened) and skied 120 times last season. My sister was amazing, super charismatic, friendly, and hilarious. Words couldn’t possibly convey how deeply her loss is felt across all the relationships she forged with people around the world. I'll miss her forever.

edit: and thank you everyone for your kind words, they're comforting.

This is such a heartbreaking tragedy - I'm so sorry for your loss.

I looked at the coordinates provided and agree with the assessment provided that it was likely a fall from the catwalk or possibly the final pitch to the summit.

You can find descriptions and pictures of this area starting at photo 18 in the route description here: https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=eolu3

The catwalk is an extremely narrow section - even a slight stumble at the wrong moment could prove fatal. Or if it was after that on the final pitch to the summit (see photo 22) then there are lots of things that could have gone wrong: loose rock, narrow ledges, patches of wet slippery grass - there's a relatively easy route up if you zigzag in the right fashion, but it's also very easy to get off route and run into far more difficult/dangerous climbing.

So unfortunately there's probably no way to ever really know exactly what happened - she might have made some tiny error at a critical moment or she could have done everything totally right and just been victim of a loose rock at the wrong moment.

Even the most experienced and competent climbers could have something go wrong in a spot like this and perish. It's a risk we all take whenever we go into the mountains. It's sobering to hear of it happening to someone else; it's heartbreaking when it happens to someone you love.

Hope that helps to bring some small degree of closure to this terrible tragedy.

[Dobsons]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Praying for some comfort and peace for you and your family

[tmud]

Given the time of year and snow pack we had, I personally believe the most likely scenario is that a large boulder she was on gave out beneath her. That catwalk and last pitch are barely class 3, if she had that much experience, I doubt she made a climbing mistake, and instead was on the wrong end of bad luck. At that time of year, the freeze/thaw cycle was still in play, dripping water between cracks in otherwise 'stable' rock, creating instability. Early season, I personally felt that all high consequence scrambling routes were going to be out until at least July for this reason. There was a climbing death in little cottonwood this year from this exact thing.

[greenonion]

I'm so very sorry.

[Jorts]

Unfortunately, this was my sister, Emily, she was 29 years old. I've been watching climbing videos on Eolus and trying to figure out what happened but this Facebook post sums up most of what I know. A few added notes is she fell around 100-150ft and died within seconds from a head injury and her body slid another 400 ft. They found her at these coordinates 37.62213 /-107.61904. I know she did meet and talk to a few other hikers in the area but was alone during this peak. If anyone has any other info or theories about what/where it happened I would like to hear them.

She hiked 29 14ers (including Snowmass the week before this happened) and skied 120 times last season. My sister was amazing, super charismatic, friendly, and hilarious. Words couldn’t possibly convey how deeply her loss is felt across all the relationships she forged with people around the world. I'll miss her forever.

edit: and thank you everyone for your kind words, they're comforting.

Have you been able to talk to any of the other climbing parties who were in the vicinity that day? They might have heard or seen something when the accident occurred.

So sorry for your loss. These tragedies always hit close to home. Most all of us on this forum are drawn to the mountains but recognize that no degree of preparation or caution can completely eliminate the risk that comes with ascending and recreating amongst them.

[Trotter]

Unfortunately, this was my sister, Emily, she was 29 years old. I've been watching climbing videos on Eolus and trying to figure out what happened but this Facebook post sums up most of what I know. A few added notes is she fell around 100-150ft and died within seconds from a head injury and her body slid another 400 ft. They found her at these coordinates 37.62213 /-107.61904. I know she did meet and talk to a few other hikers in the area but was alone during this peak. If anyone has any other info or theories about what/where it happened I would like to hear them.

She hiked 29 14ers (including Snowmass the week before this happened) and skied 120 times last season. My sister was amazing, super charismatic, friendly, and hilarious. Words couldn’t possibly convey how deeply her loss is felt across all the relationships she forged with people around the world. I'll miss her forever.

edit: and thank you everyone for your kind words, they're comforting.

I'm sorry for your loss. The catwalk is narrow, and all it takes is one stumble, one loose rock, one wet patch, etc.

I lost a friend in similar circumstances, and something that helped me was knowing they died doing what they loved, surrounded by beauty and the outdoors. Chicago basin is a beautiful place.

[DeTour]

Thank you for posting about your sister GothCrocs. You and your family have every right to whatever privacy you desire at this time, but sharing what you know provides a bit of solace to everyone in this community, and I hope to you and your family in some small way. While your pain is obviously immensely more, we all feel some grief, and concern for loved ones, whenever someone passes in the mountains.

I have nothing to add, but agreement with, what others have said about possible causes of Emily's tragedy. We try to discourage too much speculation from (non-family) members of the community. You should feel free to ask as many questions as you wish - but just know that clear answers are not likely to be found. The Catwalk is narrow and the upper pitch steep on Eolus. Loose rock, an unseen patch of ice hidden in shadows, getting slightly off-route - any of these factors, or others, or a combination of several, are possible.

Prayers for you and your family.

[Mountainsroam_2012]

Unfortunately, this was my sister, Emily, she was 29 years old. I've been watching climbing videos on Eolus and trying to figure out what happened but this Facebook post sums up most of what I know. A few added notes is she fell around 100-150ft and died within seconds from a head injury and her body slid another 400 ft. They found her at these coordinates 37.62213 /-107.61904. I know she did meet and talk to a few other hikers in the area but was alone during this peak. If anyone has any other info or theories about what/where it happened I would like to hear them.

She hiked 29 14ers (including Snowmass the week before this happened) and skied 120 times last season. My sister was amazing, super charismatic, friendly, and hilarious. Words couldn’t possibly convey how deeply her loss is felt across all the relationships she forged with people around the world. I'll miss her forever.

edit: and thank you everyone for your kind words, they're comforting.

I am very sorry for your loss of Emily. She seems like a wonderful free spirit who lived some true meaningful days in the mountains. Mt Eolus was a special mountain climb for me. I am going back soon to Eolus with my brother to be with him for his 14er finisher. God bless you and Emily. I will remember her when I go back to Eolus, and say a prayer to the creator.