At 12:15 p.m. today, October 13, park dispatch received a cell phone call concerning an 72-year-old man who was suffering from a possible heart attack on the Dream Lake Trail in the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park.   The patient was roughly 1 mile, at an elevation gain of 425 feet (9,900 feet), from the trailhead.  A park ranger medic reached the patient at 12:54 p.m.  Two other rangers reached the scene shortly after. An eight-person park litter team reached the patient at 1:25 p.m.

The patient was packaged in a wheeled litter and the team began bringing him down the trail at 1:45 p.m.  He reached the trailhead at 2:40 p.m.  At 2:49 p.m. he went in to cardiac arrest.  Rangers and paramedics from Estes Park Medical Center provided resuscitation efforts.  At 3:05 p.m. St. Anthony’s Lifeguard One flew the patient from the Bear Lake parking lot to Boulder Community Hospital.

The patient’s hometown is unknown.  His name will not be released until family members are notified.

Update:

After the man went in to cardiac arrest in he was revived and was conscious when he left the park.  He arrived at Boulder Community Hospital in approximately 12 minutes via Lifeguard One from St. Anthony's.

Correction: The man is 72 years old rather than 80 as originally reported.

The National Park Service is accepting applications for its summer 2010 Artist-in-Residence Program from October 1, 2009, through December 1, 2009, at Rocky Mountain National Park.   Selected artists are provided with a creative, contemplative environment in which to generate artistic works and share their works with the public.  Artistic diversity, new ideas and creative uses of media are encouraged.  Selected artists receive a two-week residency at the William Allen White cabin from June through September. Professional musicians, writers, sculptors, painters, photographers, poets and performance artists will be given equal consideration.

During their stay, artists share their vision in two public presentations.  Following their residency, artists donate a fully finished work to Rocky Mountain National Park, representative of their stay.  The National Park Service holds a noncommercial copyright to donated artwork.

A panel of professional artists will judge the applicant pool.  Five to six artists will be selected to participate in the summer of 2010. Selections are made on the basis of the following criteria: entry materials, vision, and recognized talent as demonstrated by participation in juried shows, publications or performances.  Having begun in 1984, Rocky Mountain’s program is the longest running Artist-in-Residence program operated by the National Park Service.

Interested artists may obtain more information and download an application by accessing the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/romo/supportyourpark/artist_in_residence.htm by calling (970) 586-1206, or by e-mail ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  If requesting by e-mail, applicants should provide a complete postal mailing address. Detailed instructions are on the entry form.  Applications must be postmarked by December 1, 2009.