Well-Known Guide Dies While Ice Climbing In Silverton's Eureka Canyon

SILVERTON, Colo. (CBS4) - A member of Ouray Mountain Rescue was killed while ice climbing in Eureka Canyon Friday afternoon.

According to the Durango Herald, Mark Miller, an Ouray County emergency medical technician, was guiding clients up a well-known route called First Gully when he fell.

His clients told the San Juan County Sheriff's Office they were on the final day of a four-day climbing course.

"He was off rope about 7 feet to the left of the lead climber," San Juan County Sheriff Bruce Conrad told the Durango Herald.

Miller, 50, was a member of the regional climbing community and had been a professional climbing guide for 20 years.

A memorial is planned at the Ouray Ice Park's Climber Memorial at 3 p.m. Sunday.