BOULDER COUNTY, Colorado — A 27-year-old snowboarder was seriously injured Monday after falling approximately 100 feet down Skyscraper Glacier north of Rollins Pass, prompting a complex multi-agency rescue operation.
The incident occurred around 2:25 p.m. on September 8th, 2025, when the Boulder County Communications Center received a report of the injured man, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. The snowboarder, whose identity was not released, was attempting a descent of the glacier when he fell, sliding and tumbling into a bergschrund, a crevasse at the base of the snowfield.
Northern Colorado MedEvac airlifted volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group (RMRG) to a ridge above the glacier. Additional RMRG volunteers accessed the area on foot and via utility task vehicles (UTVs) from Rollins Pass, while teams from Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County Sheriff’s Office, and Grand County EMS approached via all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and on foot from Corona Pass.
Rescuers faced challenging terrain to reach the injured man. RMRG members traversed a 300-foot path of glacial snow to access the patient, securing him and treating his injuries by approximately 5:45 p.m. Meanwhile, other team members scouted a safer path for extraction, avoiding more hazardous nearby terrain. Footage of the rescue was captured by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team.
The Colorado Search and Rescue Association coordinated with the Colorado National Guard to assess the possibility of a helicopter hoist. Ultimately, RMRG and Grand County Search and Rescue constructed an uphaul system to raise the patient to the top of the glacier while providing ongoing medical care. At the snowfield’s crest, rescuers hoisted the man an additional 50 feet over an eroding ridge.
The snowboarder was airlifted by MedEvac to a local hospital for further treatment around 8:10 p.m. All rescuers safely hiked out, and the operation concluded at 1:00 a.m. on September 9th.
The rescue involved multiple agencies, including the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County EMS, Northern Colorado MedEvac, and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.
