The condition of a mountaineer injured when high winds swept him off a glacier at Rocky Mountain National Park was upgraded today.
Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland reported that as of mid-morning, Sterling Jordan, 57, of Loveland, was in fair condition.
He was in serious condition when first admitted to the hospital after being rescued by park officials Tuesday.
Jordan, a network analyst at AIMS Community College’s Loveland campus, fell 50 feet and survived more than 24 hours before he was found by two backcountry skiers at the base of Ptarmigan Glacier.
The skiers wrapped him in warm clothing and gave Jordan fluids and food, saving his life, said Kyle Patterson, spokesperson for Rocky Mountain National Park.
She said that few people venture into the area where Jordan was injured and that it was fortuitous that the skiers were there.
More than a dozen park staff helped carry Jordan from the site, after high winds prevented a helicopter from flying to the base of the glacier. He was taken to Estes Park Medical Center and then transferred to the Medical Center of the Rockies.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
