Ice Climber Dies in Colorado Springs

Reid Hunt, age 32, died Sunday morning, January 28, 2007, at a popular ice-climbing spot southwest of Colorado Springs, Colorado, after falling 170 feet down a series of ice walls. The location is near Old Stage Road, south of Seven Falls. According to Steve Sperry, public information officer for El Paso County Search and Rescue, Hunt was literally standing looking over the edge, and his feet went out from under him.

Hunt and his climbing partner had approached the ice walls from above, and Hunt was preparing to rappel down the ice when he slipped, according to Mel Druelinger, 27 year veteran of El Paso County Search and Rescue. Hunt had not yet secured himself to the wall with any protection, and wasn’t wearing his crampons when he slipped. Both climbers were equipped with proper ice climbing equipment and were experienced climbers.

Several other climbers at the site performed CPR on Hunt for over an hour until Search and Rescue crews could arrive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Access to the area is difficult, and steep snowy slopes leading down to the climbing area made the trek difficult.

Hunt was a supervisor of student life at The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind in Colorado Springs where he oversaw athletics, dormitories and the transition program. He had worked there for three years. Hunt was deaf, as was his climbing partner.

In memory forum thread here.