mountain-climber-beats-death-as-avalanche-hits-as-he-hangs-from-ice-cap-on-colorados-the-ribbon

In early February 2022, veteran ice‑climber Leland Nisky found himself in a life‑or‑death ordeal while scaling the iconic ice route known as The Ribbon, perched some 400 feet above ground in the rugged alpine terrain of Ouray, Colorado. What seemed at first like a routine climb turned into a terrifying moment when a slab avalanche ripped loose above him, bombarding him with snow and ice as he hung suspended on his ice‑axes. (www.ndtv.com)

Nisky later reported that he had been un‑roped and working the route solo when the avalanche struck, and that the path above The Ribbon is known for its avalanche potential. (Yahoo Thể Thao) In the seconds that followed, he grabbed both tools, locked in tight, hugged the wall to prevent being swept off, and focused on deliberate breathing to prevent panic from claiming him. “I believe the only reason I lived is because I focused on my breathing to control my fear response instead of allowing fear to control me,” he later told journalists. (www.ndtv.com)

After the avalanche subsided—lasting approximately two minutes—Nisky found himself with snow piled around his body, still anchored high on the ice face. He clipped into his anchor system and performed two full rappels of 60 metres each to reach safety. (Reddit) Reflecting on the experience, he acknowledged that his knowledge of the route’s instability was incomplete, admitting he had “blanked on asking about conditions” from a head‑guide familiar with the bowl above the climb. (Reddit)

The incident has served as a vivid reminder of the severe hazards inherent in ice and alpine climbing: even a technically‑skilled climber on a well‑known route can be caught unawares by snow‑pack instability and shifting weather. Nisky walked away with his life—and a story of survival that underscores just how rapidly disaster can strike in the mountains.