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Rescue Crews Work To Reach Fallen Climber In Rocky Mountain National Park

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (CBS4)- Rescue crews are working to reach a fallen climber on Gabletop Mountain.

Park rangers were contacted by the fallen climber on his cell phone on Friday afternoon.

The 31-year-old man told them he had fallen an unknown distance while descending down Gabletop Mountain which is above Loomis Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The climber told them he had numerous injuries.

The U.S. Forest Service Northern Colorado helicopter used earlier for the body recover from Longs Peak was used for aerial reconnaissance.

Using cell phone GPS coordinates, rangers were able to determine his general location below Gabletop Mountain and aerial surveillance confirmed his exact location.

Since the initial call, park rangers have been in contact with the man periodically through the night via cell phone.

The man is located in a remote high alpine environment in a steep cirque above Loomis Lake approximately 11,300 feet. Loomis Lake is southwest of Spruce Lake.

Before night fall, a team of four park rangers were flown to Loomis Lake. Equipment was also flown in.

The man began to descend steep snow slopes toward Loomis Lake, which is helping rangers have a better chance of reaching and assisting him.

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