Two backcountry skiers who wound up stuck on a frozen waterfall above Ouray are back on solid ground after an overnight volunteer rescue that stretched into the following day. The pair had been descending from the east ridge of Angel Knob in the Angel Creek drainage when they ran out of options and had to hunker down and wait for help. Their long night out, along with recently released mission photos, is now serving as a chilly reminder of how unforgiving winter in the San Juan Mountains can be.
Mission log and timeline
According to a mission report from the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team, rescuers first made contact with the skiers at dawn on Jan. 30 and immediately focused on warming them up and stabilizing their medical condition. A second team headed in later that morning with food, extra clothing, and traction devices, which ultimately allowed everyone to climb out of the canyon and head for home.
How crews reached them
Local coverage and photos show volunteers hauling gear into the Angel Creek drainage and working through steep, icy terrain to reach the stranded pair. Both the skiers and the rescuers were back in Ouray by noon the following day, according to the coverage notes. As KDVR reported, the operation called for technical rope systems and careful coordination in cold, tight canyon conditions that left little room for error.
Backcountry safety reminders
The Ouray Mountain Rescue Team is using the mission as a teachable moment, reiterating some basic rules of winter travel. The group urges backcountry visitors to sign trailhead registers, check weather and avalanche forecasts, tell someone their exact route, and carry a reliable way to call for help. To keep a phone alive when it really matters, the team recommends using airplane mode whenever possible, packing traction devices and extra warm layers, and staying put while calling 911 or triggering an emergency alert via satellite device if you become lost or injured.
The nonprofit rescue team is staffed by trained volunteers who also spend time teaching backcountry safety, and incidents like this one underline why. A short day tour on steep, icy slopes can turn serious in a hurry, even for seasoned travelers, and complex rescues in narrow canyons often take time and multiple teams. For mission photos and the full account, check out the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team site and KDVR.
