December 31, 1989
Kevin Kelley was using a dead log for protection when he fell and brought the log down on his helmet. He suffered a concussion and cuts as the log split his helmet.Source: Accidents in North American Mountaineering, 1990
February 26, 1995
Carl Robinson was climbing Dexter Creek Slabs when he was hit head-on with rockfall, removed from life support some weeks later.Source: Accidents in North American Mountaineering, 1996
March 16, 1998
Greg Kowalsky was climbing in Ouray Ice Park when his harness knot came loose and he fell 70 feet to his death.Source: Accidents in North American Mountaineering, 1998
January 1, 2001
Pete Ro was practicing ice-climbing with a class in Ouray Ice Park when he completed an ice pitch and yelled what sounded like "off belay" but was really "Okay". His belayer took him off belay, and when he leaned , he fell, resulting in his death.Source: Accidents in North American Mountaineering, 2002
May, 2004
Cynthia Gottschalk was found dead on June 11 by a hiker near Cutler Creek after she was missing since May 17th. She apparently suffered from dementia and had wandered away from Ouray, where she was staying and perished from hypothermia and exposure after not remembering how to get back.Source: Americasroof.com
January 15, 2005
Paula Wilson fell about 100 feet when she began a rappel with no top anchor. Wilson was seriously injured from and was carried out within a half-hour of the fall.Source: Durango Herald
June 18, 2006
David Lauer was climbing Gilpin Peak (intending to climb Mount Sneffels) with his daughter when he fell to his death after slipping on a snowfield.Source: Montrose Daily Press
Mount Sneffels - Ouray County Highpoint