Teen in Sneakers Rescued in Rockies—at 13K Feet

Quebec 19-year-old had no climbing gear
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted May 29, 2014 8:27 AM CDT
Rookie Stuck in Rockies Rescued at 13K Feet
Longs Peak as seen from just east of Boulder, Colo.   (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Rescuers airlifted a 19-year-old hiker to safety yesterday, after he got struck in an "extremely precarious location" on Longs Peak in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. Reports describe Samuel Frappier of Quebec as an inexperienced climber with no technical equipment—according to the ABC 7 he was wearing only cotton clothes and sneakers. He was trapped on Broadway Ledge, about 13,000 feet up, overnight, as temperatures fell into the 30s, KDVR reports.

Frappier had been climbing with a friend, but they got separated during their ascent. Frappier then found himself in a spot where he couldn't ascend or descend, and used his cellphone to call for help. Rescuers had to brave rapidly melting conditions to reach him, dodging snow, ice, and rock falls, the Denver Post reports. But the teen was in good health when he reached the landing zone. "I imagine people saying that I'm stupid," he said. "And they're right." (More Colorado stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X