Marion L. Hayden, 27, helped to save Ralph P. Melville, 31, resort lodge owner, from a fatal fall, Aspen, Colorado, August 5, 1956. While Melville was climbing North Maroon Peak, which had an elevation of 14,000 feet, with Miss Hayden and an 18-year-old youth, he lost his footing and fell 350 feet down the mountainside onto an outcropping of rock, sustaining numerous injuries. Melville was out of sight of the others, who called to him and from his answers estimated his location and realized that he had been seriously injured. Although they were only amateur climbers and had no equipment except their ice-axes, Miss Hayden and the youth descended partway to Melville, but could go no farther. They then retraced their course and by a less difficult route descended another part of the mountain to an ice field extending along the side down which Melville had fallen. At Miss Hayden’s suggestion, the youth continued down a trail to summon a rescue party. Miss Hayden then started across the ice field, which sloped at an angle of 30 degrees, toward the area where Melville had fallen, hoping to be able to reach him from below. With difficulty she made her way three-quarters of a mile across the ice field, at times using her ax to chop steps to secure footing. Melville, who meanwhile had lowered himself to the edge of a vertical drop 10 feet above the top of the ice field, answered her calls. Miss Hayden then began a direct ascent of the steep ice field, which rose 700 feet in 1,000 feet. Using a technique she had read about but never tried, she cut steps in the ice, testing each before moving to it while clinging to two other steps, and abandoning those that were unsafe. She worked her way to the top of the ice field and thence upward around the vertical drop to the level of Melville but 40 feet away from him. Because the area between them was too steep and smooth to cross, Miss Hayden descended to the top of the ice field and made her way along it to the base of the 10-foot drop. Her efforts had taken her more than three hours, and it nearly was dark. Miss Hayden constructed a narrow ledge of ice and snow, below which the ice field sloped downward at a 70-degree angle, and stood upright on it below the vertical drop. Melville then lowered himself over the edge until his feet touched her shoulders. Moving with care lest she lose her footing or be thrown off balance by Melville, who was able to aid himself only slightly, Miss Hayden lowered Melville onto the ledge. After putting extra clothing on him and giving him medicine to ease his pain, she kept watch until a rescue party of experienced mountain climbers arrived five hours later, during which time the temperature fell to 28 degrees. Melville was carried down the mountain, and Miss Hayden made the descent roped to the other climbers. Melville, who had sustained multiple fractures, lacerations, and abrasions, was hospitalized a week and recovered in 10 weeks. Miss Hayden was very tired but sustained no injuries. 43929-4152
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