Climber without gear stranded on Flatirons in Boulder over weekend
SWKrullImaging
A climber that was free soloing was lucky to escape injury after becoming stranded on the Flatirons in Boulder County.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a stranded climber in the area of the Boulder Flatirons on Saturday evening at approximately 7:30 p.m. According to the official report of the incident, a 24-year-old male climber was ascending without ropes or a harness when he became stuck on the First Flatiron. His female companion was able to call 911 for help.
After several hours, rescue crews were able to successfully reach the stranded climber and safely escort him back to the Bluebell Shelter. No injuries were reported.
The stranded climber was identified as Carlos Guzman, a foreign exchange student from Cuba.
Many of the routes up the first flatiron have difficult ratings that range from 5.4 to 5.6, putting them on the beginner side of the scale when it comes to rock climbing. This can make these routes appealing to people interested in attempting free solo climbing, despite the dangers and risks associated with the sport.
The Flatirons are part of five large “numbered” rock formations located within Chautauqua Park near downtown Boulder, Colorado. Here’s a look at where the Flatirons are located on the map.
Free solo climbing is dangerous. Climbing without ropes, harnesses, or other protective equipment can result in serious injury or even death. If you plan on free soloing, you should understand the risks you are taking.
Thanks goes out to all the crews who were involved in search and rescue efforts, including the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Rangers, and the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.
Editor’s Note: Help fund search and rescue missions across the state of Colorado by purchasing a CORSAR card at ihelpsearch.org. This is not an insurance card. By purchasing a card, you are helping reimburse teams for costs incurred in providing help to lost and injured hikers, climbers, mountain bikers, hunters, ATV riders, skiers, snowboarders, and more.