Agnes was a member of a prominent Denver family. She served the American Red Cross in France during WWI. Upon her return, she became Secretary of the Denver Chamber of Commerce.
A memorial park, trail, waterfall and cabin are named for her in the Rocky Mountains:
Agnes Vaille was a member of the Colorado Mountain Club. Like its relative in the Northeast (the Appalachian Mountain Club), CMC had established the 14,000 footers club. At this time, she had climbed all 54 of the 14ers (see this link for the present day list). In January of 1925 she and companions from the CMC decided to do a winter climb of Longs Peak.
On the previous Saturday, January 10, Agnes W. Vaille, Elinor Eppich and Walter Kiener, all Colorado Mountain Club members, had started up the Longs Peak trail toward Timberline Cabin, with the intention of climbing the east side of the Peak. Subsequently the weather became threatening, so by early Sunday morning the three considered giving up their attempt to continue any further. Then by 9:30 a.m. weather conditions had improved and Miss Vaille and Kiener decided to proceed, but Miss Eppich returned to Longs Peak Inn. It might be noted that no one had yet succeed in ascending the east side during winter time.
During the night the temperature dropped to 14 degrees below zero and a strong west wind began to blow, yet they reached the summit at 4:00 a.m. Monday, January 12.
The weather turned colder, and on the descent, Agnes Vaille fell and slid about 150 feet down the steep face of the rock. She was stopped only by the rocks at the lower edge of the snow. She was injured but thought that with a bit of sleep she could proceed. Her companions continued the descent and found a cabin, where rescuers found them.
The rescuers were turned back after venturing forth to find Agnes, and one, Herbert Sortland, became lost and also died of exposure.
Later on, the body of Herbert Sortland was found. After this tragic event, the park extended the phone line to the cabin at the base and the cabin was renamed the "Agnes Vaille" Cabin. A waterfall near Mt. Princeton (in a different range of mountains than the Front Range) was named after her.
A memorial park, trail, waterfall and cabin are named for her in the Rocky Mountains:
Agnes Vaille was a member of the Colorado Mountain Club. Like its relative in the Northeast (the Appalachian Mountain Club), CMC had established the 14,000 footers club. At this time, she had climbed all 54 of the 14ers (see this link for the present day list). In January of 1925 she and companions from the CMC decided to do a winter climb of Longs Peak.
On the previous Saturday, January 10, Agnes W. Vaille, Elinor Eppich and Walter Kiener, all Colorado Mountain Club members, had started up the Longs Peak trail toward Timberline Cabin, with the intention of climbing the east side of the Peak. Subsequently the weather became threatening, so by early Sunday morning the three considered giving up their attempt to continue any further. Then by 9:30 a.m. weather conditions had improved and Miss Vaille and Kiener decided to proceed, but Miss Eppich returned to Longs Peak Inn. It might be noted that no one had yet succeed in ascending the east side during winter time.
During the night the temperature dropped to 14 degrees below zero and a strong west wind began to blow, yet they reached the summit at 4:00 a.m. Monday, January 12.
The weather turned colder, and on the descent, Agnes Vaille fell and slid about 150 feet down the steep face of the rock. She was stopped only by the rocks at the lower edge of the snow. She was injured but thought that with a bit of sleep she could proceed. Her companions continued the descent and found a cabin, where rescuers found them.
The rescuers were turned back after venturing forth to find Agnes, and one, Herbert Sortland, became lost and also died of exposure.
Later on, the body of Herbert Sortland was found. After this tragic event, the park extended the phone line to the cabin at the base and the cabin was renamed the "Agnes Vaille" Cabin. A waterfall near Mt. Princeton (in a different range of mountains than the Front Range) was named after her.
Agnes was a member of a prominent Denver family. She served the American Red Cross in France during WWI. Upon her return, she became Secretary of the Denver Chamber of Commerce.
A memorial park, trail, waterfall and cabin are named for her in the Rocky Mountains:
Agnes Vaille was a member of the Colorado Mountain Club. Like its relative in the Northeast (the Appalachian Mountain Club), CMC had established the 14,000 footers club. At this time, she had climbed all 54 of the 14ers (see this link for the present day list). In January of 1925 she and companions from the CMC decided to do a winter climb of Longs Peak.
On the previous Saturday, January 10, Agnes W. Vaille, Elinor Eppich and Walter Kiener, all Colorado Mountain Club members, had started up the Longs Peak trail toward Timberline Cabin, with the intention of climbing the east side of the Peak. Subsequently the weather became threatening, so by early Sunday morning the three considered giving up their attempt to continue any further. Then by 9:30 a.m. weather conditions had improved and Miss Vaille and Kiener decided to proceed, but Miss Eppich returned to Longs Peak Inn. It might be noted that no one had yet succeed in ascending the east side during winter time.
During the night the temperature dropped to 14 degrees below zero and a strong west wind began to blow, yet they reached the summit at 4:00 a.m. Monday, January 12.
The weather turned colder, and on the descent, Agnes Vaille fell and slid about 150 feet down the steep face of the rock. She was stopped only by the rocks at the lower edge of the snow. She was injured but thought that with a bit of sleep she could proceed. Her companions continued the descent and found a cabin, where rescuers found them.
The rescuers were turned back after venturing forth to find Agnes, and one, Herbert Sortland, became lost and also died of exposure.
Later on, the body of Herbert Sortland was found. After this tragic event, the park extended the phone line to the cabin at the base and the cabin was renamed the "Agnes Vaille" Cabin. A waterfall near Mt. Princeton (in a different range of mountains than the Front Range) was named after her.
A memorial park, trail, waterfall and cabin are named for her in the Rocky Mountains:
Agnes Vaille was a member of the Colorado Mountain Club. Like its relative in the Northeast (the Appalachian Mountain Club), CMC had established the 14,000 footers club. At this time, she had climbed all 54 of the 14ers (see this link for the present day list). In January of 1925 she and companions from the CMC decided to do a winter climb of Longs Peak.
On the previous Saturday, January 10, Agnes W. Vaille, Elinor Eppich and Walter Kiener, all Colorado Mountain Club members, had started up the Longs Peak trail toward Timberline Cabin, with the intention of climbing the east side of the Peak. Subsequently the weather became threatening, so by early Sunday morning the three considered giving up their attempt to continue any further. Then by 9:30 a.m. weather conditions had improved and Miss Vaille and Kiener decided to proceed, but Miss Eppich returned to Longs Peak Inn. It might be noted that no one had yet succeed in ascending the east side during winter time.
During the night the temperature dropped to 14 degrees below zero and a strong west wind began to blow, yet they reached the summit at 4:00 a.m. Monday, January 12.
The weather turned colder, and on the descent, Agnes Vaille fell and slid about 150 feet down the steep face of the rock. She was stopped only by the rocks at the lower edge of the snow. She was injured but thought that with a bit of sleep she could proceed. Her companions continued the descent and found a cabin, where rescuers found them.
The rescuers were turned back after venturing forth to find Agnes, and one, Herbert Sortland, became lost and also died of exposure.
Later on, the body of Herbert Sortland was found. After this tragic event, the park extended the phone line to the cabin at the base and the cabin was renamed the "Agnes Vaille" Cabin. A waterfall near Mt. Princeton (in a different range of mountains than the Front Range) was named after her.
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