Safety Guide
A Safety Guide for Rollins Pass, where snowfields, avalanche terrain, exposure, weather, and limited access—from Skyscraper Glacier to Mount Epworth—can turn a simple outing into a serious situation.
Rollins Pass is beautiful, remote, and unforgiving. Its alpine lakes, historic roads, snowfields, steep slopes, and high-elevation weather can make an outing feel manageable one moment and consequential the next. This Safety Guide is intended to help visitors prepare before they travel, recognize conditions that can change quickly, and understand why even a familiar-looking route can become difficult when weather, terrain, altitude, or limited access works against you.
Preserve Rollins Pass is not a Search and Rescue agency, emergency dispatcher, road authority, or substitute for calling 911. This page is offered as practical visitor education, because informed decisions protect people, reduce avoidable strain on first responders, and help preserve the fragile historic and natural landscape that makes Rollins Pass worth visiting in the first place.
IN AN EMERGENCY AND WHY HELP MAY TAKE TIME
If someone is injured, lost, stranded, or in immediate danger, call 911 for emergency assistance, rescue coordination, medical guidance, road response, or dispatch services. Emergency calls should go directly to the appropriate public safety channels so trained responders can evaluate the situation and act as quickly as conditions allow.
When calling for help, provide the most precise location possible. Useful information may include GPS coordinates, nearby landmarks, road or trail names, elevation, the number of people in your group, the nature of any injuries, current weather, available clothing and shelter, and whether the party can safely move. In remote terrain, clear information can save time when time matters most.
A place can look close on a map and still be difficult to reach. Rollins Pass includes rough roads, exposed alpine terrain, wilderness boundaries, limited communications, and weather conditions that can change quickly. Snowfields, rockfall, darkness, lightning, wind, and vehicle limitations may slow both visitors and responders. Search and Rescue teams operate with skill, commitment, and judgment, but they are not immune from the same terrain and weather that create emergencies in the first place. Preparation matters because rescue may not be immediate, and the safest outcome is often determined long before anyone needs help.
WEATHER, LIGHTNING, WIND, AND EXPOSURE
Weather on Rollins Pass can change quickly, and exposed terrain leaves little margin when it does. Sunshine at the start of a visit does not guarantee safe conditions later in the day. Thunderstorms, lightning, strong wind, graupel, cold rain, hail, and sudden temperature drops can turn open alpine areas into dangerous places with few shelter options.
Start early, watch the sky, and treat building clouds as useful information rather than background scenery. Exposed ridges, high points, open tundra, snowfields, and lake basins are not places to linger when thunderstorm activity is developing. Turning around before the weather fully arrives is not overreacting; it is often the decision that keeps a manageable outing from becoming an emergency.
SNOWFIELDS, GLACIERS, AND HARD SNOW
Snow on Rollins Pass can linger well beyond the season when many visitors expect summer conditions. A short crossing may appear harmless, but hard snow on a slope can turn a simple slip into a long, uncontrolled fall. The danger increases when the runout ends in rocks, talus, water, or steeper terrain. Visitors should be especially cautious around snowfields, cornices, shaded gullies, and glacier-like terrain. Soft snow, firm snow, and icy snow all behave very differently, and conditions can change during the same day as temperature, sun angle, cloud cover, and wind shift. If a fall would be difficult to stop, the crossing deserves more caution than its distance alone suggests.
ALTITUDE, FATIGUE, AND JUDGMENT
Rollins Pass rises to 11,676 feet, where altitude can affect breathing, hydration, balance, pace, and decision-making. Visitors who feel strong at lower elevations may move more slowly, tire sooner, or become colder faster than expected. Even a short walk can feel different when the body is working harder to do ordinary things. Fatigue also changes judgment. A group may press on because the destination seems close, because the weather has not fully turned yet, or because no single problem feels serious enough to stop. The safer question is not “Can we probably make it?” but “Do we still have enough time, energy, weather, and daylight to return safely?”
ROAD ACCESS AND VEHICLE PREPAREDNESS
Rollins Pass roads are part of the experience, but they are also part of the risk. Road conditions can vary by season, storm, drainage, snowmelt, maintenance, vehicle type, and driver experience. A road shown on a map should not be treated as a guarantee that every vehicle can travel it safely. Visitors should plan for rough surfaces, narrow areas, limited turnaround opportunities, slow travel, changing weather, and the possibility of delay. Carry enough fuel, water, warm clothing, food, and basic vehicle supplies to remain safe if travel takes longer than expected. A spare tire, jack, and the knowledge to use them may matter more here than they do on pavement. For current access considerations, visitors should consult the Rollins Pass Road Status page and official land-management sources before traveling.
NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATION
Cell service should not be assumed on Rollins Pass. Phones may lose signal, batteries may drain faster in cold or windy conditions, and navigation apps may become less useful when a device is wet, damaged, dead, or out of coverage. A phone is a valuable tool, but it should not be the only plan. Before traveling, download offline maps, carry a backup power source, know your route, and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. In a remote area, the person who knows your plan may become an important part of your safety system if you do not return on time.
SAFETY & OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS
Good preparation on Rollins Pass starts before things become difficult. Visitors should carry enough clothing, water, food, navigation, lighting, and emergency supplies to remain safe if weather changes, daylight fades, a vehicle doesn’t start, or someone in the group moves more slowly than expected. At a minimum, bring layered clothing, sun protection, extra water, food, a headlamp or flashlight, a first-aid kit, offline navigation, a backup battery, and a way to stay warm if your outing lasts longer than planned. When snowfields are present, conditions may require additional judgment and equipment; a short crossing can become dangerous if the snow is hard, steep, or ends above rocks.
For a fuller preparation checklist, see the Outdoor Essentials page before heading to Rollins Pass.
TURNAROUND TRIGGERS
Turning around is one of the most important safety tools a visitor has. It is also one of the easiest to postpone until the decision becomes harder. On Rollins Pass, a safe turnaround may be prompted by building clouds, increasing wind, hard snow, route uncertainty, wet clothing, fading daylight, fatigue, vehicle concerns, or a member of the group moving slower than expected. A good turnaround is not a failed trip. It is a successful safety decision made early enough to preserve options. The mountain will still be there, but daylight, weather windows, warmth, and energy can disappear quickly.
DOGS, CHILDREN, AND MIXED-ABILITY GROUPS
Groups move only as safely as their least-prepared member. Children, dogs, visitors from lower elevations, and less-experienced companions may tire sooner, struggle with footing, or become cold before others recognize the problem. A route that feels casual to one person may be too much for another. Dogs may also face sharp rocks, hot or abrasive surfaces, steep snow, wildlife encounters, and exhaustion. Keep pets under control, bring water for them, and avoid placing them in terrain where a slip, chase, or injury would create a rescue problem for everyone involved.
HISTORIC SITES AND SAFETY
Safety on Rollins Pass includes stewardship. Historic roads, structures, ruins, archaeological features, and artifacts are part of a fragile cultural landscape. Climbing unstable remnants, moving objects, driving around closures or barriers, or leaving established routes can damage irreplaceable resources while also putting visitors at risk. Leave artifacts where they are, avoid disturbing historic features, and treat barriers, closures, and wilderness boundaries as part of the safety system. Protecting the landscape helps preserve both its history and the public’s ability to experience it responsibly.
BEFORE YOU GO
Check current conditions before traveling. Review road status, weather forecasts, fire restrictions, seasonal closures, and official land-management information. Let someone know your route and expected return time, and be prepared to change plans if conditions do not match expectations. The safest visits are built on preparation, humility, and the willingness to turn around before a small problem becomes a serious situation.
OFFICIAL RESOURCES
For emergencies, call 911.
For closures, restrictions, road information, fire conditions, weather, and land-management guidance, consult official public agencies and current information sources before traveling. Preserve Rollins Pass provides educational and historical information, but official conditions, emergency response, and public safety decisions remain with the appropriate agencies and responders.
Search & Rescue teams never charge for rescue, but medical transport and hospital care may incur costs. Don’t delay calling for fear of a bill—time lost is what kills.
RESPECT THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL COME TO THE RESCUE
Every rescue on or near Rollins Pass typically involves people from both sides of the Divide, working through exhaustion and darkness. The best way to honor them is never to need them.
As many as fifteen different agencies have been involved with a single rescue mission. Overall, more than two-dozen various agencies have been involved historically with rescues on the pass: Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Front Range Rescue Dogs, Boulder Emergency Squad, Eldora Ski Patrol, City of Boulder Water Utilities Department, U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, American Medical Response, Nederland Fire Protection District, Northern Colorado Med Evac, Flight for Life Colorado, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Regional Transportation District, Alpine Rescue Team, Nederland Fire Department, Timberline Fire Department, Grand County Search and Rescue, Colorado Army National Guard, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Grand County EMS, Classic Air Medical, Grand County EMS Mountain Medical Response Team, Winter Park Ski Patrol Dog Team, and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC).
If you want to support their work, buy a CORSAR card or Keep Colorado Wild Pass; proceeds fund equipment and training statewide.
TWO PRIMARY DANGER AREAS IN OUR SAFETY GUIDE: SKYSCRAPER GLACIER AND MOUNT EPWORTH
Skyscraper Glacier and Mount Epworth illustrate the same lesson in different seasons: terrain that appears close, familiar, or accessible can become rescue terrain with little warning. On Skyscraper Glacier, hard snow, steep runouts, exposed rocks, and bergschrunds have turned descents into serious summer and early-autumn rescue operations. On Mount Epworth, winter and early-spring avalanche accidents show that motorized access does not reduce backcountry risk; it can place visitors deeper into cold, unstable, and difficult-to-reach terrain where rescue may be delayed by weather, snow conditions, and responder safety. In short: Rollins Pass terrain can become rescue terrain quickly.
ACCIDENTS ARE TEACHABLE MOMENTS
Selected past incidents are included below to help visitors understand risk. Mountain accidents often happen when several ordinary factors combine: a late start, snow conditions, changing weather, unfamiliar terrain, fading daylight, fatigue, or a route that looked safer from a distance than it proved to be underfoot. The purpose of discussing rescues and accidents is to make the pattern visible before it repeats. A good safety decision rarely feels dramatic in the moment. It may simply look like turning around, choosing a lower-risk route, carrying one more layer, or deciding that a snowfield is not worth skiing or snowboarding today.
SKYSCRAPER GLACIER
Skyscraper Glacier and its surrounding terrain deserve particular respect. The area has been the site of serious rescues, and its combination of snow, slope angle, rocks, remoteness, and exposure can create consequences that are not obvious to casual visitors. Even experienced backcountry travelers can be surprised when conditions change or a single fall becomes difficult to arrest. This section is not intended to discourage responsible travel. It is intended to make the risk clear: visitors should evaluate snow firmness, slope, runout, weather, group ability, equipment, and retreat options before entering this terrain. If conditions feel uncertain, the safest decision may be to turn around.
WHAT MAKES SKYSCRAPER GLACIER SO DANGEROUS
- Late-season ice: Hardened snow in August–October behaves like concrete. Self-arrest on névé often fails.
- Bergschrund: The crevasse at the glacier’s head opens in late summer; it swallowed a snowboarder in 2025.
- Rock runouts: The snowfield terminates in boulders, not an open bowl.
- Remote location: Even helicopters require multiple ferry flights and ridge landings; ground teams still hike out at night.
- Wilderness designation: No motorized access for vehicle extraction; extra carry distance.
Every factor compounds response time. A single accident occupies resources across multiple counties for most of a day—and puts rescuers in danger well past dark.
RECENT RESCUES ON SKYSCRAPER GLACIER
- September 8, 2025 — 27-year-old snowboarder, 100-foot fall into bergschrund: Reported at 2:25pm; rescuers reached the patient at 5:45pm, used an uphill haul system, moved him to a helicopter landing zone by 8:10pm, and cleared the operation around 1:00am. Agency count: 6.
- September 7, 2020 — 17-year-old skier, head laceration after rock impact: A fall on Skyscraper Glacier required a seven-hour rescue, three flights, and coordinated alpine response across Boulder and Grand counties. Agency count: 9.
- August 4, 2018 — 23-year-old skier, 300-foot fall with temporary loss of consciousness: The skier impacted rocks, lost consciousness, regained footing, and self-evacuated to the summit after SAR was mobilized, showing that even survivable incidents on Skyscraper Glacier can carry serious consequences at altitude.
To put this into perspective: a 300-foot vertical fall is roughly equivalent to falling from a 30-story apartment building. On Skyscraper Glacier, where reported slope angles appear to range from about 45 degrees at the entry to more than 50 degrees on steeper upper sections, even a descent measured down the snowfield rather than straight down can quickly become a highway-speed slide. A 300-foot slide on that kind of terrain could plausibly reach roughly 50–85 mph, depending on ice hardness, friction, tumbling, braking attempts, and impacts with rocks, snow, or ice. A lower final speed does not necessarily mean a safer fall, because tumbling and collisions may dissipate energy through the body before the person comes to rest.
BEFORE YOU COMMIT: ASK YOURSELF THESE HARD QUESTIONS
- Do you have recent (not theoretical) self-arrest practice on hard snow with the exact tool you’ll carry today?
- Are you bringing and willing to use a helmet?
- Is someone on your team competent to build a haul, raise, or lower system if a partner gets stranded?
- Do you have a plan if wind, clouds, or nightfall make air support impossible?
- Can you communicate from the glacier (satellite messenger or radio), and does your plan not rely on cell service?
- Do you have extra insulation and the patience to wait hours if you or a partner are injured?
- Have you confirmed who is carrying the first-aid kit—and do they actually know how to use it?
- If you watch someone slide, is your instinct to chase—or to slow down, breathe, and call for help with accurate coordinates?
If you hesitate on any of these, please don’t commit. That choice protects you, your partners, and the volunteers who may have to risk their lives to reach you. This terrain tolerates almost no error—and that’s what this page intends to make unmistakable.
MOUNT EPWORTH
Mount Epworth, near Pumphouse Lake and Deadman Lake on the west side of Rollins Pass, has been the scene of multiple serious snowmobile avalanche incidents. These accidents are a reminder that winter access does not make the terrain safer; it often adds avalanche hazard, cold exposure, burial risk, limited communications, and difficult rescue logistics.
On February 14, 2021, a 58-year-old snowmobiler was killed after an avalanche released on the south/east-facing terrain below Mount Epworth and swept him and his machine into Pumphouse Lake. Reporting based on the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s final report described the rider as pinned beneath his snowmobile in a mix of avalanche debris and water; Grand County rescuers responded quickly, but he could not be revived. The avalanche crown was reported to have spanned roughly 2,000 feet.
On January 7, 2023, two snowmobilers were buried and killed in an avalanche in the Mount Epworth / Pumphouse Lake area near Winter Park. Grand County Sheriff’s Office reported that Grand County EMS, Grand County Search and Rescue, and a Winter Park Ski Patrol dog team responded with the Sheriff’s Office after the 2:15pm report; one victim was recovered that day, while responders had to retreat from the area because of weather and safety concerns before returning the next morning.
These incidents matter because snowmobile terrain can feel accessible while still carrying full avalanche consequences. A slope that is reachable by machine may still require avalanche training, rescue equipment, conservative terrain choices, and the discipline to avoid loaded slopes when conditions are unstable. For current avalanche conditions, visitors should consult the Colorado Avalanche Information Center before entering winter backcountry terrain.
The primary purpose of our work is to inform the public.
