An ice climber who was injured by falling ice Saturday in Ouray was rescued by the Ouray emergency services and Care Flight of the Rockies.

The 25-year-old woman was climbing in the Fingers area of the Ouray Ice Park around noon when she was struck in the head by a falling piece of ice, said Tim Pasek, spokesman for the Ouray Mountain Rescue team.

The large chunk of ice had been dislodged by a climber on an adjacent route, and sailed about 50 feet before striking the woman, he said. The woman was wearing a helmet and was roped up.

“It broke her helmet,” Pasek said.

A local guide and other climber provided initial care for the woman until EMTs arrived.

Ouray County EMS also responded to the incident.

Because of the steep, ice-covered terrain, the rescue team rigged a technical rope system to raise the patient out of the Uncompahgre Gorge.

A utility task vehicle took her to an ambulance, which transported her a half-mile to a helicopter landing zone at the hot springs park in Ouray.

A CareFlight of the Rockies helicopter flew the climber to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction for advanced medical care.

The woman’s condition was not available. She was on a climbing trip with a group of 10 to15 people.

“The rescue went smooth, we were able to get to the patient in about 20 minutes,” Pasek said. Ice climbers assisted with the rope hauling effort.

On Jan. 29, the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team responded to a woman ice climber at the Ouray Ice Park who was struck on the back by a falling block of ice in the Uncompahgre Gorge.

A rope and pulley system lifted her to the top of the canyon rim. The woman was transported to a waiting ambulance.

jmimiaga@the-journal.com