On Saturday around 10:30 a.m., the Boulder County Communications Center received reports of a person suffering from serious injuries in the vicinity of the Skywalker Couloir on South Arapahoe Peak, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday in a statement.

According the the BCSO, multiple calls were made to 911 reporting the incident, however, poor cell reception caused calls to be frequently dropped, complicating efforts to determine the patient’s location.

BCSO officials said at one point, reports indicated the possibility of two separate rescue incidents, however, a reporting party was able to reach the top of the peak where the caller obtained a stronger cellular signal and provided precise location details to rescue teams.

The Skywalker Couloir is a 13,039-foot high, 40-50 degree-sloped backcountry ski run on the south slopes of South Arapahoe Peak. The run is also enclosed within rock for approximately 1,500-feet of the descent.

Upon arrival to the incident scene, rescue officials found a 29-year-old male, who was initiating a ski descent of the couloir when he fell, and had slid and tumbled approximately 1,000 feet down the snowfield before coming to rest in a scree area.

Saturday’s incident was similar in nature and happened nearly one year to the day to a skier crash and rescue operation in the Skywalker Couloir in June 2024.

In 2024’s incident, a 47-year-old male slid between 1,000-2,000 feet down the snowfield before coming to a stop at a rock ledge, resulting in his helicopter rescue.

According to officials, Nederland Fire Protection District personnel initially responded to the Fourth of July Trailhead and immediately entered the field. MedEvac airlifted a Rocky Mountain Rescue Group volunteer to the patient, landing within 50 feet of the site.

BCSO said it was determined that a helicopter evacuation was necessary, and the patient was transported by MedEvac to a local hospital for further treatment.

Agencies assisting with the rescue effort included: Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Nederland Fire Protection District, MedEvac, and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.