CO Woman Dies In Fall During Free-Solo Climb In The Rocky Mountains

BOULDER, CO — A 26-year-old Boulder woman died after falling 500 feet while free-solo climbing at Rocky Mountain National Park Sunday, the National Park Service said in a news release Monday.

At the time of her fall, the woman was with her 27-year-old climbing partner on the Four Aces of Blitzen Ridge, which is located on Ypsilon Mountain on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park.

The woman's climbing partner called the Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team, which arrived that night. A Colorado Air National Guard helicopter had to be called in to hoist the climbing partner because of his location, officials said.

On Monday morning, the search and rescue team members hiked to the area above Ypsilon Lake to prepare for a helicopter long-line recovery of the woman's body, according to officials.

The woman's body was flown to the Upper Beaver Meadows area of the park before she was taken to the local coroner's office, according to officials.

Her name will be released after her family has been notified, officials said.