LOSS OF CONTROL—VOLUNTARY GLISSADE, INEXPERIENCE, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT

Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park

At 1630 on July 27, 1985, I (Roy Curet, 25) attempted to glissade a steep snowfield below Andrew’s Tarn. I quickly realized that the speed at which I was moving was unsafe. I attempted to self-arrest but fumbled, dropped and lost my ax. I tried to slow myself by digging in my heels and hands. I couldn’t slow down, but managed to keep from hitting head first. I tried to absorb some of the impact with my legs but when I hit the rocks at the base of the snowfield, my left foot caught between two rocks and I was flipped over. The total distance of the slide was 40 meters. I could tell from pain and deformity that my left ankle was broken and that I had possibly broken a rib on the left side.

At this time I was reached by my wife, who fortunately and intelligently had stayed off the snowfield, and some hikers who were in the area. Some of the hikers went to inform the Rangers of the accident. We rigged a splint for my leg and, as the weather became threatening, I began hopping down with the assistance of two hikers and my wife. We reached the main trail about two hours later. We thought that the Park Service could get horses in to this location and so we we waited there. Ranger Randy Ames arrived about an hour later. He told us that the horses could only come as far as the outlet of The Loch. After hot drinks supplied by a trail maintenance crew in the area, I hopped, with assistance, the remaining distance to the outlet of The Loch. At this time I was nearly exhausted. I was evacuated the rest of the way on horseback. We reached Bear Lake Trailhead at 0130.

Susan drove me to Estes Park Medical Center where it was determined I had dislocated the sub-talar joint and fractured the talus. I also had damaged just about every tendon and ligament in my left foot. (Source: Roy Curet)

Analysis

I was wearing wind pants, which contributed to the speed of my slide. Had I used a wrist strap on my ax I would not have lost it and may have been able to self-arrest. If I had more practice in basic snow travel techniques, I may have avoided this accident entirely by not getting on a snowfield that didn’t have an adequate run-out. (Source: Roy Curet)