Boulder County crews rescue man who fell in gully on Mt. Toll
Jul. 5—A 33-year-old man was rescued after he fell and got stuck while trying to travel across Mount Toll while hiking in the Indian Peaks Wilderness on Sunday.
According to a Boulder County Sheriff's news release, the county communications center got a request for assistance from Grand County law enforcement in rescuing a hiker who was stuck on the western side of Mount Toll. The man had fallen about 15 feet down a gully into technical terrain on the Grand County side of the mountain and he could not get out on his own.
The man was trying to hike a loop from Brainard Lake in western Boulder County across Mount Audubon over to Pawnee Pass and back down to Brainard Lake. While trying to make it across Mount Toll, he lost his grip and fell into a gully of slick, nearly vertical rock. Despite falling about 15 feet, the man only sustained minor injuries and called 911 for help, because he did not have the equipment he needed to get out on his own.
Weather in the area prevented Grand County Search and Rescue from using a helicopter to deliver rescuers to the scene. That made it more efficient to conduct the rescue from Boulder County.
A team from Rocky Mountain Rescue Group hiked in from Brainard Lake and were able to make verbal contact with the man before sunset. Rescuers fixed ropes and descended through the steep terrain to find the hiker, ultimately descending about 600 feet from the ridgeline before finding him. Rescuers secured the man with a harness and tied him into the rope system. He was able to climb to the ridge with help from rescuers belaying behind him.
The group reached the Continental Divide about 3:15 a.m. Monday, where the hiker was evaluated for injuries. He was able to hike out on his own to the trailhead.
Other agencies participating in the 18-hour rescue include Flight for Life Colorado and Medevac.
