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Lisa Foster, Hiking Guidebook Author, Suffers Multiple Injuries And Her Companion Presumed Killed In Colorado Avalanche

Hiking Author Injured, Companion Killed In Colo. Avalanche
Reuters
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By Keith Coffman

DENVER, March 18 (Reuters) - The author of a hiking guidebook suffered multiple injuries and her climbing partner was presumed killed when an avalanche swept the pair off a ridge inside Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park, authorities said on Monday.

Lisa Foster, author of "Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide," and her companion David Laurienti were reported overdue for a weekend climb at the park, about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Denver, park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson said.

Rangers located Foster, 45, Monday afternoon, and rescuers treated her for "numerous injuries" as they brought her down the rugged mountainside by toboggan, Patterson said. Further details of her condition were not immediately available.

Laurienti, 43, was presumed killed in the fall, and recovery crews have yet to retrieve his body, she said.

Foster, who is also a park service biology technician, told rescuers that the snowslide hit about 6 p.m. Sunday as she and Laurienti were on the north side of Ypsilon Mountain.

Patterson said the 12,500-foot (3,810-meter) ridge where the pair was climbing is a challenging mountaineering route that includes technical rock climbing sections.

Laurienti was the fourth avalanche-related fatality in Colorado so far this season, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which said the avalanche danger was "considerable" in the park over the weekend. (Editing by Tim Gaynor and Lisa Shumaker)

Before You Go

Avalanche Education And Backcountry Skiing
(01 of11)
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In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, evidence of sliding snow is seen in steep terrain near a ski area at Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(02 of11)
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In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, instructor Dave Jordan, right, teaches an avalanche safety course on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(03 of11)
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In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, instructor Dave Jordan, kneeling at left, leads students using avalanche scanners toward a target backpack with a transmitter in it as he teaches an avalanche safety course on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(04 of11)
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In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, instructor Dave Jordan demonstrates the use of an avalanche scanner, right, to find an avalanche transmitter, left, as he teaches an avalanche safety course on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(05 of11)
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In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, instructor Trevor Kostanich teaches an avalanche safety course at Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(06 of11)
Open Image Modal
In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, instructor Trevor Kostanich teaches an avalanche safety course at Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(07 of11)
Open Image Modal
In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, instructor Trevor Kostanich teaches an avalanche safety course at Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(08 of11)
Open Image Modal
In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, Dave Jordan, right, teaches an avalanche safety course on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(09 of11)
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In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, Steve Hamill, second from right, uses an avalanche scanner to look for a target during an avalanche safety course held on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(10 of11)
Open Image Modal
In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, Students using avalanche scanners look for a target during an avalanche safety course held on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
(11 of11)
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In this Jan. 4, 2013 photo, instructor Dave Jordan, front left, leads students using avalanche scanners toward a target backpack with a transmitter in it as he teaches an avalanche safety course on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Where backcountry safety education once stressed the mechanics of avalanches and snow science, training courses now incorporate a focus on human factors such as how to make better decisions, manage group dynamics and speak up should danger arise. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (credit:AP)
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