Nationally known ice climber dies

By Charles Ashby
Monday, January 16, 2012

Boulder resident and nationally known ice climber Jack Roberts died of an apparent heart attack after falling 60 feet on the Bridal Veil Ice Falls near Telluride, San Miguel County officials said today.

Roberts, 58, had survived the fall, but later died of an apparent cardiac arrest, said San Miguel Sheriff Bill Masters.

A climber for more than 40 years, Roberts was well known in the climbing community as a guide, instructor and author of a book and numerous journal and magazine articles on the subject.

Eighteen San Miguel County Search and Rescue Team members responded to the fall, which occurred at about 12:20 p.m. Sunday. They spent about 40 minutes trying to resuscitate him with CPR without success.

His wife was out of the country when she was notified of the accident.