Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Threads related to Colorado mountaineering accidents but please keep it civil and respectful. Friends and relatives of fallen climbers will be reading these posts.
Forum rules
Please be respectful when posting - family and friends of fallen climbers might be reading this forum.
User avatar
IronSkiMountaineer
Posts: 47
Joined: 6/26/2013
14ers: 21  3 
13ers: 2
Trip Reports (5)
 

Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by IronSkiMountaineer »

http://kdvr.com/2014/04/25/skier-seriou ... lson-peak/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have you guys heard about this? Does anyone know him or how he's doing?
User avatar
IronSkiMountaineer
Posts: 47
Joined: 6/26/2013
14ers: 21  3 
13ers: 2
Trip Reports (5)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by IronSkiMountaineer »

answering my own questions...

http://www.ouraynews.com/articles/2014/ ... ilson-peak" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
crestone14ers
Posts: 160
Joined: 2/7/2011
14ers: 58 
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by crestone14ers »

I've known Joe personally and as very good friends for well over thirty years.

He's owner of San Juan Hut Systems and is one of the very early pioneers of backcountry and high peaks skiing.

Here's good thoughts sent out to Joe and his daughter Kelly who operates the business with him.

Hoping for a successful recovery.
User avatar
forbins_mtn
Posts: 913
Joined: 6/13/2011
14ers: 28  2 
13ers: 11
Trip Reports (5)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by forbins_mtn »

So glad he's safe. What an intense fall.
User avatar
Double Oh Seven
Posts: 101
Joined: 8/10/2012
14ers: 19 
13ers: 23 1
Trip Reports (5)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by Double Oh Seven »

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery. This article has a little more detail and sounds pretty positive overall about his condition.

http://www.ouraynews.com/articles/2014/ ... -1800-feet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have never met Joe but the most recent issue of Backcountry magazine has a nice story about him and the work he has done to build the San Juan Hut System. pretty cool stuff.
User avatar
gb
Posts: 989
Joined: 12/12/2006
14ers: 56  54  6 
13ers: 67 54
Trip Reports (26)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by gb »

It stayed cold on thursday. We skied a N face at 2:30 and it was rock hard. Hope he comes out ok.
User avatar
14erFred
Posts: 1034
Joined: 7/15/2009
14ers: 51 
13ers: 1
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by 14erFred »

Best wishes to Joe for a full and speedy recovery.
"Live as on a mountain." -- Marcus Aurelius
User avatar
cheeseburglar
Posts: 2434
Joined: 8/7/2006
14ers: 58  2 
13ers: 79 2 1
Trip Reports (8)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by cheeseburglar »

I'm glad he's ok and hope his brain injury isn't too bad.
I guess when you interview an injured person you get this:
Ryan estimated the three started off on their descent at a 65 degree slope. He said he usually doesn't ski on slopes much greater than 50 degrees.
I've never skied a 65 degree slope and never will unless I'm about to go the hospital!
The marmot said “Nobody is perfect and you are not nobody.”

Random FoTH Quotes
User avatar
Dave B
Posts: 2402
Joined: 6/14/2010
Trip Reports (9)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by Dave B »

Good first person account of the accident here.

Reading this makes me realize I need to renew my Wilderness First Aid training.
Make wilderness less accessible.
User avatar
IronSkiMountaineer
Posts: 47
Joined: 6/26/2013
14ers: 21  3 
13ers: 2
Trip Reports (5)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by IronSkiMountaineer »

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing that writeup!

Agreed on the need to obtain/freshen up wilderness first aid skills!
User avatar
ulvetano
Posts: 449
Joined: 11/15/2008
14ers: 58  10  7 
13ers: 48 2 1
Trip Reports (20)
 
Contact:

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by ulvetano »

Amazing stuff. I once lost it on steep in-bounds line and lost my skis, sliding then feet first. Clawing and kicking I gained purchase and flipped head over heels backwards and continued to cartwheel for a while. He was so lucky in that bc terrain and those cliff bands. I'd certainly also like to get a WFR class under my belt. Whippets do rock. And I'm going to add a gps/mapping app to my phone just for another safety outlet.
User avatar
ameristrat
Posts: 592
Joined: 2/21/2011
14ers: 58  6 
13ers: 30
Trip Reports (9)
 

Re: Skier injured on Wilson Peak

Post by ameristrat »

After reading that, it's even more astounding that the guy lived with (relatively) minor injuries. Released from the hospital in two days! Someone was looking our for him!
You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know. - Rene Daumal
Post Reply