Rockslide & avalanche on Mount Meeker couloir; one person deceased, two others injured

Rescue operations staged at Upper Beaver Meadows on May 29; photo taken by Barb Boyer Buck from Many Parks Curve (Trail Ridge Road).

RMNP UPDATE - May 29, 2022, 4:06 pm

Incident On Dreamweaver Couloir On Mount Meeker In Rocky Mountain National Park 
At approximately 9 a.m. this morning a rock fall and avalanche were reported near the Dreamweaver Couloir on Mt. Meeker.  The rock fall and avalanche were witnessed by climbers in the area.   

Three individuals were involved in the incident including a female and two males.  The female suffered minor injuries and is still on scene.  Due to the location and severity of injuries of one of the males, Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members requested assistance from a Colorado National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base to extricate him via a hoist operation, using a winch operated cable.  This occurred at approximately 2 p.m. when there was a brief weather window. Rocky Mountain Rescue assisted with the helicopter hoist operations.  The man was flown to Upper Beaver Meadows, transferred to Northern Colorado Med Evac air ambulance and then flown to Medical Center of the Rockies.  Rescue teams are working in terrain above 11,500 feet and are experiencing winter like weather conditions. 

A search is continuing for the second male who is still missing in the area where the avalanche occurred.   

Several agencies are assisting Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue team with this operation including Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Flight for Life, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Front Range Rescue Dogs, Colorado National Guard, and Med Evac.

A temporary flight restriction is in place.  Upper Beaver Meadows Road is currently closed in the park for potential continued air operations.  No further information is available at this time.  

Avalanche debris on Dreamweaver Couloir on Mount Meeker May 29, 2022; Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park

RMNP UPDATE  - May 29, 2022, 9:04 pm

Deceased Male Located In Avalanche Debris; Other Two Individuals Rescued 
At approximately 5:15 p.m. tonight a deceased male was located by searchers who were using a RECCO device and probing in avalanche debris.  The recovery operation will be delayed due to winter weather conditions.  The ages and hometowns of the three individuals are being withheld until family members are notified. 

At 9 a.m. this morning a rock fall and avalanche were reported near the Dreamweaver Couloir on Mt. Meeker.  The rock fall and avalanche were witnessed by climbers in the area.   ​

Incident Mount Meeker May 29 2022; Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park

Three individuals were involved in the incident including a female and two males.  Due to the location and severity of injuries of one of the males, Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members requested assistance from a Colorado National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base to extricate him via a hoist operation, using a winch operated cable.  This occurred at approximately 2 p.m. when there was a brief weather window.

Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members Mount Meeker incident May 29, 2022; Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain Rescue assisted with the helicopter hoist operations.  The man was flown to Upper Beaver Meadows, transferred to Northern Colorado Med Evac air ambulance and then flown to Medical Center of the Rockies.  The female suffered minor injuries and was flown to Upper Beaver Meadows at 4:15 p.m. where she was transferred by ground to further medical care.  Rescue teams worked in terrain above 11,500 feet and at times experienced winter like weather conditions throughout the day. 

Photograph from helicopter of Dreamweaver Couloir slide on Mount Meeker; Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park

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Several agencies assisted Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue team with this operation including Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Flight for Life, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Front Range Rescue Dogs, Colorado National Guard, and Med Evac. 

No further information is available at this time. 

Helicopter operations during incident on Mount Meeker May 29 2022; Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park