Fall Down Steep, Snow-covered Slope Kills Visitor to Rocky Mountain National Park

A Colorado man was killed when he slipped on a snow-covered slope above Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Emerald Lake photo by El Capitanvia flickr.

A Colorado man has died in a 500-foot fall down a steep, snow-covered slope in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The 66-year-old man from Fort Collins slipped on a slope above Emerald Lake about mid-afternoon Saturday. A witness called the park at 3:00 p.m. from a cell phone. When witnesses reached the man at 3:15 the victim had suffered massive trauma, had no pulse and appeared to have died during the fall. Park rangers arrived on scene at 5:05 p.m.

The accident occurred approximately 2.5 miles from the Bear Lake Trailhead. The man’s identity was confirmed at 8:00 p.m. when rangers were able to access his identification from his vehicle. Rangers reached the trailhead with the victim’s body at 10:00 p.m. The man was mountaineering in the area and was wearing crampons and a helmet. His name will not be released until next of kin are notified.