My Account of a Rescue

Introduction

Below is a summary of the events that took place on Monday July 6, 2026. I have not used Chat GPT in any way to review or edit this text. I want everything to be completely from my perspective. I have done my best to include quotes around text only where I am one hundred percent certain that those words were said verbatim. This is clearly biased from my perspective, but have taken a lot of time over the past couple days to review, edit, and omit excessive emotional content.

However, there are places where I have still opted to include my opinions. There was a heated encounter between myself and the San Miguel County sheriff, which I believe is the heart of all this commotion. I am grateful for the medical care and assistance that the San Miguel County SAR volunteers provided, and would not have been able to get home without them. I am also grateful for the help I received from the San Juan SAR volunteers that helped me the rest of the way back to safety. I have nothing but respect for SAR, and I hope that that is accurately reflected by the events below.

Being able to be a SAR volunteer myself over the past two years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Having the opportunity to help people in their time of need, no matter how big or small, means the world to me, and I hope that I can recover soon and continue to assist others in the backcountry. There has been a lot of time to think about these events, the decisions that were made, and the consequences of my actions. Ultimately, I am happy with the decisions that I made, and I would not change them if I could.

What Happened

On Monday afternoon, I enjoyed a hike up to Columbine Lake just south of Ouray. The air quality was great and free of the local wildfire smoke. I had been wanting to do this hike for a while, and it did not disappoint. Although, I did not see any columbine flowers on the way up. I enjoyed sitting by the lake for a while and took in the views. The winds felt good, and I had brought my base rig with me, so I decided to check out the cliffs above the lake for a potential base jump.

I eventually found a spot around 2pm, and decided to jump. Unfortunately, I had a very poor landing, and injured my ankle on some rocks. I hit my head on a rock as well, which broke my helmet, and sent it rolling down the rock talus. I was unable to recover it later. I could tell that my ankle was possibly broken or sprained. It swelled immediately and was initially very painful. I was unable to make more than a step with the injured foot, but was still partially weight bearing. I knew from my watch that I was looking at a 3.8 mile hike down from the trail, and without any hiking poles to alleviate some of the weight on my foot I was looking at a long painful night. On top of that, I still was not at the trail. I was over seven hundred vertical feet above where the trail meets Columbine Lake. I was doubtful whether or not hiking would even be an option, but tried to stay optimistic.

It did not take long for me to activate my Garmin device. I received an initial phone call where I relayed my vitals and current condition. I emphasized that this was not urgent, and requested assistance to hopefully hike down. The connection was spotty, so we agreed to switch to a text conversation. Here is the full conversation:

					Coleman (initial automated message): I have an emergency, and I need you to send help.
					Garmin: Emergency Response acknowledged your emergency.
					G: This is Garmin Response. What is your emergency?
					C: Fell hiking cliffs above Columbine lake. Ankle might be broken. Cannot hike out. No major life threats.
					G: We have contacted emergency services, and they are working on a plan to reach your location.
					G: We have passed your information along to emergency services. Please keep us updated on your status.
					C: Living the dream
					C: If you bring crutches I can probably hobble out
					G: We will pass your messages/suggestion along to emergency services.
					G: SAR is working on coordinating your rescue. Please keep us updated on your status.
					C: Sunshine and rainbows up here
					G: Thank you for the update. We will check in with you in 30 minutes.
					G: How are you doing?
					C: I am still 86 yards above and 260 yards horizontal from the lake. Found a patch of snow to ice my leg. Building a snowman too. Spirits are high
					C: No changes to vitals
					G: Confirmed. We will be reaching out for an update in a few minutes and will let you know what they say.
					G: Dispatch has advised SAR is setting up command
					C: Hooray! I am doing my best to get to the flat by the trail, but there still may be 3-400ft of low angle
					G: What is your age/weight/clothing description?
					C: 31 male, 5'8 150, blue sun shirt, black pants, black bag. There is also a 37 yo female (looks 28), [name redacted], on the trail heading in for moral support
					G: Confirmed. We have relayed this to emergency services. They are still working on sending rescue. We will update you when we have anything new.
					C: Don't be a stranger
					G: Confirmed!
					G: How are you doing?
					C: Not too shabby. Solid 5/7. Pain down to a 3/10, 5 while limping. No changes to vitals. Still really pretty outside.
					G: Confirmed, good to hear. We just spoke with emergency services and they are waiting for the helicopter to show up and then will head out to your location.
					G: No ETA was provided. Please let us know if anything changes.
					C: I am almost at the lake. Is my location updated with these messages? Two people are up high near my original location
					G: We have been speaking with your emergency contact, Maryann. She wanted to let you know that the family is aware and being updated on this rescue.
					C: Goddamit
					C: Sorry mom
					G: Yes, they have your updated coordinates.
					G: Please let us know once you make contact with the helicopter.
					C: Chillin with the homies now

I would like to acknowledge that I did not communicate to dispatch that I was BASE jumping. This was a conscious choice I made in the hope that the low urgency of my scenario was being communicated. When the paramedics first arrived on scene, they were given the complete story as you will see below. I was also asked how far I fell on the phone and stated "I don't know, it is hard to say". I have seen numerous different numbers in the media, and cannot say how they arrived at these measures.

Here are images of where I came to rest:

Gear partially buried in a rockslide at the accident site View about halfway down the loose, unstable talus below the cliffs

The first image is my gear partially buried in a rockslide. The second is about halfway down the talus. The terrain was very loose and unstable. I was not in a position where a helicopter could land, and I knew a SAR team would have to do a miserable and dangerous low angle rescue with virtually no good anchor options to get me to an LZ. I still knew if possible that I would like to try to hike out, but I also knew a helicopter evacuation was likely going to happen. With these volunteers in mind, I decided to butt-scoot and crawl down over seven hundred vertical feet of horrible, sharp terrain in order to reduce the potential risk to rescuers.

There have been numerous comments about a "lack of respect" for first responders in the media. To be frank, I do not respect the opinion of anyone that has not personally dragged themselves down over seven hundred feet of horrible, sharp granite talus with a broken ankle. I was in pain, and could have stayed where I was, and made the entire rescue much worse and more dangerous for everyone. Instead, I chose to make a painful journey over three hours with the safety of first responders in mind. I knew that if I could get to the very nice, well-maintained trail, then the conditions for SAR would be much safer.

The last message was at approximately 6pm. During this time, I was able to contact friends and loved ones to let them know that I was injured but doing well. One person, the name redacted above, insisted on hiking up the trail to be with me during this ordeal. I finally made it down to the lake right when the initial responders arrived on scene. I was able to signal them with my headlamp when I heard them calling.

The initial two-person hasty team arrived and informed me that they were paramedics with San Miguel County SAR. They performed a thorough assessment, and then we discussed my condition and transport options. I discussed in detail with them everything that had happened prior. We talked at length about how I was feeling and if it was plausible to hike out with assistance. They gave me ibuprofen and Tylenol and a foam pad to sit on (which was a great relief after my journey down the talus). I took my shoe off so they could better examine my ankle. Then they began to splint my foot, but stopped and asked if I would like to splint my ankle with my shoe on since hiking was still an option in their professional medical opinion. We discussed this for a while. At this point, my pain had subsided significantly, I was ambulatory, and I was confident that I could make the same hike out that I took in with the assistance of some poles to alleviate the weight on my injured foot. They also informed me that a second team from San Juan County SAR was currently making their way up the trail that I had arrived on, and I would be able to get passed off to them on the way down.

A decision was made. I put my shoe back on, they splinted my ankle around the shoe to make hiking easier, and then they called for team 2 to bring hiking poles. Myself and the two volunteers were happy with this decision, and we were ready to get moving. At this point the Care Flight helicopter landed at our location. We discussed this transport option again, and I told the responders that I did not want to take the helicopter. The second team arrived 5 to 15 minutes later along with their sheriff from their utv that thankfully was able to make it almost all the way to my location. This then became one of the most bizarre experiences I have ever had in any search and rescue scenario.

An individual approached me aggressively, without identifying themselves. They told me that I "… only have one option here." They insisted that "you do not have a choice in this matter", I had to get on the helicopter and it would be rude and disrespectful to do anything else. I respectfully told them no, that I had discussed options with the medical professionals and was eager to start hiking down. This lead to the individual getting even more heated, raising his voice and berating me on various points, stating things such as "All of these people are here because you fucked up", "They all left their families and are out here, putting their lives at risk for you because you were irresponsible", "You need to do the right thing here", "I promise, this isn't about you being a piece of shit, but it's time to do the right thing.", "You need to show some respect to these people that are out here because you screwed up."

This went on for a while. I was completely shocked. After I told him again, that I want to stick with our original decision, he turned around and walked off in a huff. At this point, one of the initial paramedics apologized to me and told me that was their sheriff. I was still dazed from the encounter. I told them all that my decision had nothing to do with disrespect. I truly appreciated every one of them for responding. I told them that I also volunteer with my local SAR team and understand the time, effort, and commitment they make in situations like this. However, paramedics said I was fine to walk so I want to walk and avoid a large bill from the helicopter. I told them, "… unless you feel in your professional opinion that I should not hike out anymore, or there is real risk to yourselves on this trail, I refuse to get in the helicopter."

At this point the sheriff came back and tried to threaten me with a larger bill than I would get with the helicopter. He said "Care Flight is non-profit and they will work with you on your bill. I won't.", "I promise, I will hit you with the biggest possible bill I can.", "You don't have to worry about just one bill, you will have two now.", "I know you are worried about the helicopter bill, but it's time for you to buck up and do the right thing.", "Storms are coming in, you are putting my people's lives at risk".

I will take a moment to note that the weather conditions were pretty spectacular. Scattered clouds, lots of sun, no rain, thunder, or lightning. There was no wildfire smoke in the air. I chose this particular area today due to the beautiful forecast. It remained nice out the rest of the night as well.

I also know that SAR does not charge for rescues. I did not understand why the sheriff decided to threaten me financially for not getting on the helicopter. In my opinion, it was bizarre and completely unprofessional. Very often, we request Care Flight on rescues that I have been involved with in Mesa County. It is also common for subjects refuse the service. If they are needed elsewhere, then they are capable of triaging, and leaving if they feel the need to. Resources were not being held up here. It was completely unprofessional for someone in this sheriff's position to behave this way.

He then came back and told me I have two options now. "The right one" take the helicopter, or hike out. "But I'm telling you, if we hike out, we will all hate you.". I told him that I would like to hike out. This was clearly a rhetorical option, because we did not start to hike out. I calmly and respectfully asked him to explain his concerns to me. I did not want to put anyone at risk. I reminded him of everything I had done so far to remove the risk of the steep talus from their rescue. I once again told him and everyone there that I had nothing but respect for everything they do.

He did not want to have a conversation. "I am not discussing it with you.", "I am not going to count pennies and people here", "You don't want to take the helicopter, then we will wait for San Juan SAR to come get you." I told him that I was happy to wait for San Juan SAR and hike out with them.

Then, for the next 40 minutes, this cycle continued. He would give me two options, this time hike out with San Juan or take the helicopter. He would threaten to send me two or three of the biggest possible bills he could, and would not work with me like Care Flight would. He emphasized that I had no respect for these volunteers, and also began to add "Just wait for the press release". "Just wait for the press release, I will drag your name through the mud."

I maintained that I wanted to stick with our original decision. My condition had improved, especially with the help of the paramedics. I was ambulatory and confident I could hike out with the assistance of the poles they provided. The opinions of the paramedics had not changed. I also totally understand if he has decided that he did not want to send his resources down the trail. The sheriff is responsible for these teams, and that is a totally valid decision to make. Part of our plan was to hand me off to San Juan County SAR anyway. I did not understand the vitriol and anger. At this point, he walked away several hundred feet and spent the last hour we were together with his back turned to me. Looking back at the timelines, we had sat there for 2 hours total.

As mentioned previously, a concerned friend that received a satellite message from me was on the way. She arrived on scene with hiking poles of her own. At this point, the sheriff approached and said, "He can go with you for all I care. I am done with him." One of the volunteers asked if I would like to keep the poles he brought for my hike down. I thanked him but declined and used the one my friend had provided. I once again thanked all of the volunteers for everything they had done. I tried to emphasize that I respected all of them, I did not understand what was going on between myself and the sheriff, but truly would not have been able to hike out without their help. Then we left while the sheriff continued to call down threats and insults.

Shortly after down the trail we ran into two paramedics with the San Juan SAR team. They provided an assessment of their own, and we once again discussed logistics and a plan for making it down the trail. They said I did not need additional medical care, and were happy to hike down with me or let me go on my own. They offered some rope and some alpine belays to help me down steep sections of trail. We started hiking down with this team around 8:15 and got back to my car with no accidents at 10:50.

At this point, I would like to once again address claims I have seen in the media. I did not by any stretch of the imagination refuse assistance from SAR. The first responders with San Miguel provided essential first aide, and I would not have been able to continue without them. I begged their sheriff to continue with transport. He refused, and that is ok. Another team was on the way, and he did not want to tie up his resources any further. And of course I am incredibly grateful for the professionalism, care, and additional safety that the San Juan team provided me.

To suggest that I cried wolf and did not respect the time, effort, and risk of those involved during this event is simply false. It feels like a targeted attack from a single individual. It also shows a complete lack of respect for the efforts that were made by the San Miguel team. The paramedics on scene did an amazing job. They were patient, provided great care, and helped me feel like I was finally safe after spending hours alone, scared, and in pain.

My Response

As mentioned in the beginning, I believe the heart of this issue was the emotional encounter I had with the San Miguel sheriff. If I could remove our conversation from this story, this is how I would summarize the events:

Why am I writing this? The San Miguel County SO, and at this point numerous other news agencies have shared a very one-sided narrative that I know is not truthful. It is incredibly unprofessional, and while I do not expect these statements to change public opinion at this point, I still feel it is important to voice what I know to be the truth of these events. I was in need, I called for help, received help, and I am grateful for it.

The actions of the San Miguel County SO has resulted in not just backlash on myself, receiving numerous hateful messages and even death threats, but undeniably reflects poorly on the Mesa County SAR team. Once their story was released almost every single one of my team members personally reached out to me concerned about my personal well-being. Our team is full of the most considerate and professional people that I have ever met, who would never behave as shamefully as the San Miguel County Sheriff. They are a group of incredible volunteers that dedicate far more time than almost any other team I know of, training for hours at least once every week. They always do their best to provide the best care they can to anyone that asks for a rescue. I have never once seen any member of our team treat a subject with anything but respect. I feel deep regret that my actions have led to bad press for one of, if not the best SAR teams in the state of Colorado.

I would also like to comment on my rescue in Switzerland ten years ago. A dollar figure related to this rescue was provided for this incident. It was my interpretation that this was meant to communicate the believe that I had no respect for emergency resources and cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars. The truth is that the actual figure was close to double what they provided. I also paid every penny of those costs. It took close to a year of legal battles with insurance companies to make sure that all fines were paid, but I did it. Outside Magazine wrote an article about it. I did it and did not throw up my hands and give up because I believe that those rescuers deserved every penny. It was the right thing to do, and I have nothing but respect for everyone that performs these rescues.

I do not expect anything to happen, but this is what I feel is the right thing to do:

  1. The San Miguel County SO should immediately make a public statement correcting and apologizing for the statements that they made
  2. The sheriff on scene should make a public apology for their actions, the resulting defamation of myself, disrespecting the incredible efforts his own team made that were essential to my rescue, and for casting a bad light on Mesa County SAR