14ers.com

I may be wrong but isn't the Flying Dutchman not really doable in late summer without any snow/ice? I'm wondering if these folks thought they were on the loft. Horrible situation.

https://www.estesparknews.com/rmnp_news ... d236f.html

switchbacker wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:40 am I may be wrong but isn't the Flying Dutchman not really doable in late summer without any snow/ice? I'm wondering if these folks thought they were on the loft. Horrible situation.

https://www.estesparknews.com/rmnp_news ... d236f.html

I had the same thought. Dutchman is NOT a couloir one descends. But confusing it with the Loft I can kind of see happening if you're not familiar with the mountain.

I was reading an account of the person who found the body on IG before SAR and they were under the impression that they planned on descending the Loft, but didn't find the route correctly. Generally one doesn't go directly straight down the Loft Couloir (I've never have gone down or up the Loft directly), but goes down the "exit ledges" well to the other side to avoid the steep, rocky upper portion of the Loft. That's how the route is described in Roach – and this site.

Very sad. Condolences to the fallen hiker, and godspeed to the injured.

justiner wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 12:01 pm an account of the person who found the body on IG

Mind sharing the link to this post for those of us w/o IG?

I can't find it again, sorry.

From the Denver Gazette's outtherecolorado https://denvergazette.com/outtherecolor ... 16910.html

My partner and I were just finishing up Kor's Door around 12:30pm on Saturday and heard some yelling for help. We were first on the scene, rendered aide, and initiated call for rescue. Us and eventually some other guys from other climbs on the east wall assisted the injured climber until rescue came. Can confirm injured party was off-route coming off keyhole ascent looking for loft descent and descended flying dutchman on accident. They had no crampons, no axe, in the rain, and slipped 300ft down snow to talus below. Male climber survived with broken pelvis and young woman was unfortunately deceased when we arrived.

jscully205 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 5:06 pm My partner and I were just finishing up Kor's Door around 12:30pm on Saturday and heard some yelling for help. We were first on the scene, rendered aide, and initiated call for rescue. Us and eventually some other guys from other climbs on the east wall assisted the injured climber until rescue came. Can confirm injured party was off-route coming off keyhole ascent looking for loft descent and descended flying dutchman on accident. They had no crampons, no axe, in the rain, and slipped 300ft down snow to talus below. Male climber survived with broken pelvis and young woman was unfortunately deceased when we arrived.

It seems you and your partner made a difference and helped the best you could. I am sure it wasn’t easy. Good job! Sorry for the climbers in the accident. Sorry for you guys!

jscully205 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 5:06 pm My partner and I were just finishing up Kor's Door around 12:30pm on Saturday and heard some yelling for help. We were first on the scene, rendered aide, and initiated call for rescue. Us and eventually some other guys from other climbs on the east wall assisted the injured climber until rescue came. Can confirm injured party was off-route coming off keyhole ascent looking for loft descent and descended flying dutchman on accident. They had no crampons, no axe, in the rain, and slipped 300ft down snow to talus below. Male climber survived with broken pelvis and young woman was unfortunately deceased when we arrived.

Wow, what a sad situation. I hiked Meeker in the morning via the loft and was almost at the parking lot when I passed several rangers heading up so they must have been responding to this. I can see how they would get off route, the loft ledges aren't easy to find if you haven't studied the route or ascended that way. The poor girl only 21yrs old.

I also encountered a party on the loft who asked where the Keyhole was. I explained where they were and they expressed interest in trying the rest of the loft route and I discouraged them from proceeding if they had not studied the route. Gladly I think they chose to summit Meeker rather than trying for Longs summit. Hoping we don't read about more of these tragedies this year.

switchbacker wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:40 am I may be wrong but isn't the Flying Dutchman not really doable in late summer without any snow/ice? I'm wondering if these folks thought they were on the loft. Horrible situation.

https://www.estesparknews.com/rmnp_news ... d236f.html

I saw the teams heading up for the Rescue when I climbed Meeker & Longs via Loft on Saturday. I believe I saw the two individuals who had just came off of the Homestretch and started descending via the Loft, the female in particular looked unsure and having just come up from that route, I definitely would not want to have descended it. I could see how someone could descend the wrong way down if they don’t have any knowledge of the routes or a GPX. Really terrible situation and my heart goes out to the family.

The woman has been identified:

https://gazette.com/news/1-killed-2-inj ... d900b.html

Although I have hiked for almost 40 years in Colorado, I still consider myself a novice. One rule I have that I very rarely have violated is that I come down the same way I go up. I would stress this to all but the most experienced climbers/hikers. It seems that it’s almost always coming down that gets people in trouble.