A Kansas mother whose daughter died in a fall from the Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata in Idaho Springs last year is suing the operator, alleging negligence and improper training led to her daughter’s death.
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Olivia Copeland, 26, died on Sept. 20, 2025, while leading a tour on the Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata. The route is owned by Arkansas Valley Adventures, which also operates a via ferrata in Granite and runs rafting trips on the Arkansas River and Clear Creek.
Via ferratas — Italian for “iron way” — feature ladders, steel cables and bridges along cliff faces. While similar to rock climbing, traversing a via ferrata is less technical and physically demanding. The routes are popular in Colorado’s mountains, including tours in Estes Park, Cañon City, Ouray and Manitou Springs.
Nearly a month before Copeland’s death, a customer who took a tour with Copeland told company officials he was concerned about the lack of equipment safety checks by the guides on the course and the lack of backup safety gear, according to the lawsuit.
He also reported “a dangerous condition” in the section of the course where Copeland later died, which an Arkansas Valley Adventures employee told him not to worry about, the lawsuit alleges.
The company knew about the safety issues and failed to retrain employees on the proper use of safety equipment or to supply the needed backup gear, the lawsuit alleges.
Arkansas Valley Adventures did not respond to requests for comment.
On the day of Copeland’s death, Arkansas Valley Adventures knew the guide was not in compliance with internal “minimum requirements to guide,” the lawsuit alleges.
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Officials “created and fostered a lackadaisical safety culture” by not providing the mandated equipment or inspecting employees to ensure they were following procedures, according to the lawsuit.
The Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety’s Amusement Rides and Devices Program investigated the fatal incident and determined Copeland’s death was caused by failures in staff training, according to the lawsuit. The Denver Post requested a copy of that report, but had not received it as of Thursday.
That report also highlighted the company’s failure to comply with state regulations and maintain safety inspection records, according to the lawsuit.
A separate investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration noted four safety violations, including issues with protective equipment and employee training. The company has contested those findings, but will have to pay roughly $43,000 in fines if the citations are upheld, according to federal records.
The lawsuit was filed Sunday in Clear Creek County District Court, the first anniversary of Copeland’s death.
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