Skier self-extricates from slide on Red Lady

Walked to meet ambulance

The valley got another reminder this week to backcountry ski with precaution. A skier called 911 on Tuesday, January 29, after triggering a slide on Red Lady Bowl. According to EMS and Crested Butte Search and Rescue, the skier was able to self-extricate from the slide.

“We were paged up there for a gentleman that was in an ambulance that self extricated and walked down to meet the ambulance,” said EMS team leader Rick Ems.
The man walked on his own about 300 yards to the ambulance. According to Nicholas Kempin of Crested Butte Search and Rescue, the man did sustain potentially serious injuries, although he was unable to release further details.
Kempin was patrolling and did not respond directly to the call, but did say the call came in late in the day at 3 p.m. when it was snowing and blowing snow with low visibility.