Injured Snowboarder Rescued After 100-Foot Fall in Colorado Backcountry

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 1:54 PM ET

A snowboarder was rescued on Monday in Colorado after falling about 100 feet down a glacier and injuring himself.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an incident near the Skyscraper Glacier in the Rollins Pass area at about 2:25 p.m.

The snowboarder, a 27-year-old man, was starting a descent of the glacier when he fell. He came to rest in a narrow rock fissure, the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group said.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Northern Colorado MedEvac flew volunteer rescuers from RMRG to a ridge above the glacier.

Another RMRG team travelled to the scene with UTVs and on foot, while more rescuers with Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County Sheriff’s Office, and Grand County EMS headed towards the Skyscraper Glacier from Corona Pass.

The RMRG volunteer team reached the injured snowboarder, who had seriously hurt his lower leg and was becoming hypothermic, by traversing the glacier. They secured the snowboarder and treated his injuries at about 5:45 p.m., the sheriff’s office said.

Meanwhile, other rescuers scouted the terrain and identified a path that could be used to haul the snowboarder off the snowfield.

RMRG and Grand County Search & Rescue constructed an uphaul system to pull the snowboarder to the top of the glacier. Atop the glacier, he was raised another 50 feet over an eroding ridge.

From there, MedVac transported the snowboarder to a local hospital for more treatment at about 8:10 p.m. The rescuers then left the backcountry. The search and rescue operation ended at 1:00 a.m.

“Mountain travellers should be aware that remaining alpine snow in September is often firmly consolidated and even low angle snow is potentially hazardous,” Rocky Mountain Rescue Group wrote in a social media post. “Stay safe in the backcountry, and thank you to all the volunteers and partner agencies who make these rescues possible.”

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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