Two men were rescued after falls Sunday at Rocky Mountain National Park — the second rescue finishing Monday morning after rangers spent the night on Longs Peak with the victim.
Park officials said they were notified by cellphone at noon that Jesse Keller, 24, from Fort Collins, had fallen 150 feet down the Homestretch on the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak. Rangers were able to speak with Keller, who indicated he had suffered injuries but would attempt to continue on his own.
Officials said rangers left the Longs Peak trailhead with the intent to assist Keller on the way down, but their efforts were hampered by severe weather and lightning. Rangers reached Keller at 8:30 p.m. at the Keyhole. They helped him down to the Boulder Field, where they all spent the night.
“Our intent was to continue toward him, but we knew with the weather we’d have a better chance in the morning,” said park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson. “We provided supplies like a sleeping bag and pads to help keep him comfortable, along with a variety of food and water.”
At 8 a.m. Monday, Fuller was flown by Lifeguard One to Medical Center of the Rockies. His rescuers made it to the trailhead at 11 a.m.
Rangers said they were notified by cellphone at 9:30 a.m. Sunday that Chris LeGault, 48, of Lyons had taken a reported 50-foot fall while backcountry skiing on Sundance Mountain near Trail Ridge Road. LeGault had landed in rocks, suffering numerous injuries.
Search and rescue personnel reached LeGault at 11:45 a.m. Performing a technical evacuation by lowering LeGault through snow, rocks and brush, the 20 rescuers eventually reached Old Fall River Road at 7:30 p.m. LeGault was taken by ambulance to Estes Park Medical Center.
