Injured hiker rescued from Colorado fourteener west of Denver

A Colorado search team spent nine hours on Monday rescuing an injured hiker from a Rocky Mountain fourteener west of Denver.

The Alpine Rescue Team responded at about 3 p.m. Monday to a hiker who had fallen just below the summit of Mount Bierstadt, injuring his leg, according to a news release from the agency.

The popular mountain climb is near Guanella Pass, about 56 miles west of Denver, off of Interstate 70.

Rescuers requested help from Flight for Life, but strong winds gusting up to 60 mph on the mountain peak made flights into the field impossible, agency officials said.

Instead, the team climbed 2,500 feet up the mountain on foot to rescue the man and carry him down, with help from Arapahoe Rescue Patrol and Park County Search and Rescue. Clear Creek Fire Authority and Emergency Medical Services also responded to the fourteener.

Rescue officials said it was their second rescue on Mount Bierstadt in two days. Additional information on the first rescue was not available.

Hikers this time of year should be prepared for cold temperatures and lots of ice on the trail, Alpine Rescue team officials said. The man rescued Monday wore warm layers and had food and water to sustain himself during the nine-hour operation.

All rescuers were out of the field by midnight, officials said.

Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.

(Visited 2 times, 1 visits today)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *