# Historic Climbing Rescue on Mount Robson's Emperor Face

> Two climbers rescued from Mount Robson's Emperor Face after failed nighttime attempt.
- Title: Historic Climbing Rescue on Mount Robson's Emperor Face
- Summary: Two climbers rescued from Mount Robson's Emperor Face after failed nighttime attempt. Two climbers were rescued from Mount Robson's Emperor Face after a…
- Keywords: mount robson, emperor face, climbers, rescue attempt, robson valley sar, infinite patience route, alpine climbing, hypothermia, sports, travel, Historic, Climbing
- Source: Climbing — https://climbing.com/news/historic-climbing-rescue-emperor-face-mount-robson-bc
- Author: Anthony Walsh
- Published: 2026-10-07T02:09:51+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mount robson, emperor face, climbers, rescue attempt, robson valley sar, infinite patience route, alpine climbing, hypothermia, sports, travel
## Climbers stuck on Emperor Face
Two climbers were stuck high on Mount Robson's 5,000-foot Emperor Face after a failed nighttime rescue attempt.
## Conditions worsened by sun
As the sun warmed the Emperor Face, climbing conditions turned into a sloppy mess of isothermal snow and running water.
## First rescue attempt
Jeff McNaughton received an SOS call from climbers at 10,700 feet, describing themselves as hypothermic and unable to descend safely.
## Helicopter rescue attempt
A military helicopter circled below the climbers with a spotlight but could not reach them due to altitude limitations.
## Successful rescue next day
The next day, rescuers successfully long-lined both climbers off the Emperor Face and deposited them at the trailhead.
## Climbers in good condition
Dale Mason confirmed the climbers were healthy with no frostbite after the rescue, though they were hypothermic initially.
## Why rescue was needed
Climbers were too incapacitated by cold to descend safely, with equipment perceived as insufficient for surviving the night.
## Emperor Face conditions changed
Mount Robson's glaciers have shrunk, exposing loose stone and increasing rockfall risks due to melting permafrost.
## First successful rescue
This is the first time in history a party has been successfully rescued by helicopter from the Emperor Face.
## Key lesson for climbers
Climbers should always bring enough equipment to survive the night on snowy alpine routes in September.
## Key takeaway

Two climbers were rescued from Mount Robson's Emperor Face after a failed nighttime rescue attempt, with no frostbite reported.