Two men were rescued Saturday after being trapped overnight on a Longs Peak climbing route in Rocky Mountain National Park, according to park officials.
The 47-year-old and 50-year-old climbers had reached roughly 14,000 feet on Kiener’s Route when they called for help, according to a news release from RMNP. The two “reported they were incapacitated, unable to continue their route, and had not planned to remain overnight,” the release stated.
, also known as the Mountaineer’s Route, is a popular climb in RMNP that scales the east face of Long’s Peak, according to the . The website allows climbers to share, rank and review routes across the country.
Park rangers stayed in contact with the climbers overnight and launched a rescue operation early Saturday morning, including two Rocky Mountain National Park search and rescue teams and members of , RMNP officials said. The crews hiked into the Longs Peak area on foot while officials tried to arrange an air rescue.
Strong winds prevented a U.S. Forest Service helicopter and a Flight For Life helicopter from reaching the climbers Saturday morning, RMNP officials said in the release.
After the two aborted flights, a Chinook helicopter and its crew from the Colorado National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility at Buckley Space Force Base successfully landed on the summit of Longs Peak at about 2:15 p.m., officials said.
The climbers were rescued from the summit and flown to Upper Beaver Meadows Road within the national park, according to the release.
“Park rangers remind visitors that winter conditions can persist in the high country even when overall snowpack is below average,” officials stated in the release. “Those recreating in alpine environments should plan ahead and be prepared for ice, snow, high winds, and subzero temperatures.”
