Don’t be fooled by the lack of fresh powder along much of Colorado’s Front Range – roads and trails located in high elevation areas can still be extremely difficult to travel this time of year due to snow, ice, and mud. Seven motorists found this out the hard way, requiring rescue on Christmas afternoon.
According to Douglas County Search and Rescue, the motorists got stranded on trails in the Rainbow Falls area, which is located in the southwest corner of the county. While trails in this area are popular among a wide variety of outdoor recreators, the same maintenance and plowing can’t be expected as might be on higher-traffic city roads at a lower elevation.
KDVR reports that the motorists were stuck for several hours amid dropping temperatures. All seven motorists were ultimately rescued without injury.
While this story has a happy ending, it’s an important reminder of how dangerous strandings can be in Colorado’s backcountry terrain. Thankfully, these people were able to get out and call for help and had supplies that allowed them to survive while waiting for assistance. As negative temperatures will soon become more common when January hits, it’s important to remember that these conditions can pose a life-or-death situation in a matter of minutes.