Latest news with #ColoradoNationalGuard
CBS News
25-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Hikers from North Carolina rescued after becoming stuck in Colorado High Country
Two nineteen-year-olds from North Carolina had to be rescued when they became stuck while hiking in Colorado's High Country. According to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office, one of the hikers called 911 around 8:20 p.m. Tuesday after the pair became stuck at around 13,000 feet while looking for a shorter route down the north face of Capitol Peak. Fortunately, neither of the hikers was injured. Emergency personnel advised the hikers to stay put while they worked to develop a rescue plan. At 6 a.m. the next morning, a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter picked up two hoist-rescue technicians from Mountain Rescue Aspen at Sardy Field and flew them toward Capitol Peak. Authorities said a brief snow shower and lightning only delayed the search by a few minutes. Capitol Peak can be seen in the distance from the Upper Capitol Creek Trail on September 6, 2017, near the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado. Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images Although the hikers were in black and gray clothing, the Blackhawk crew managed to spot them. They hoisted the hikers up one at a time and returned to Sardy Field, where they were medically evaluated and then released. Capitol Peak is considered a difficult mountain to climb with numerous exposures and loose, crumbling rock, said the Sheriff's Office. The mountain lies around 14 miles west of Aspen in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness area. The mountain is no stranger to tragedy. In 2022, a hiker fell 900 feet to her death near the summit. Several search and rescue team members were injured in 2021 when they were caught in a rockslide while looking for a missing hiker. Five climbers died on Capitol Peak in 2017. "Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office want to remind the public to be prepared when attempting to climb Capitol Peak. Capitol Peak is not a "walk-up" peak; it is a technical climb," warned the sheriff's office. "Climbers need to carry proper gear, which includes food, water, a helmet, a communication device, and bright-colored, warm clothing. Climbers should be prepared for changing weather conditions. There is not an alternate route down the north face of Capitol Peak. If there was a safe shortcut, it would be the standard route."
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
2 New Yorkers struck by lightning while hiking on Colorado peak were saved in record-high state helicopter rescue
It was a striking view. Two New York men struck by lightning while hiking a Colorado peak were airlifted to safety in what is believed to be the highest-altitude helicopter rescue ever recorded in the state. The duo — who haven't been identified — called for help around 5 p.m. Thursday after getting off course while attempting to climb Torreys Peak, one of the state's highest summits at 14,300 feet. 'It didn't sound like they had a ton of experience,' Alpine Rescue Team spokesperson Jack Smith said, noting that the pair decided to summit the peak during a road trip through the Centennial State. 'I think it was probably just a lack of awareness.' Emergency crews had just steered the men back on course when they were zapped by lightning minutes later — leaving one hiker unresponsive and in critical condition. About 30 rescuers ascended the mountain while a Colorado National Guard Black Hawk chopper hoisted the injured man off the peak at 14,200 feet. He was then rushed to the burn unit of a Denver hospital, where he remains in fair condition. The helicopter returned around midnight to rescue the other wounded man, briefly touching down on the mountain before he was treated and released from a nearby hospital. Emergency personnel believe the daring rescue shattered the state's previous record of 13,700 feet — with such missions a challenge due to thinning air reducing a chopper's lift at higher altitudes. The Black Hawk's max ceiling is around 19,000 feet. Torreys Peak stands as the 11th-highest summit in Colorado. With Post wires
Arab Times
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Arab Times
Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in record-high Colorado helicopter rescues
WASHINGTON, June 14, (AP): Rescuers fetched two men struck by lightning from a Colorado peak in what they believe were the highest helicopter rescues on record in this mountainous state. One man remained hospitalized in fair condition Friday while the other was treated at a hospital and released. The rescues happened late Thursday near the summit of Torreys Peak, a 14,300-foot (4,360-meter) mountain about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Denver. Torreys Peak is ranked variously as the 11th or 12th highest summit in Colorado and is less than 200 feet (60 meters) shorter than the state's highest mountain, Mount Elbert. The men from New York state, whose identities weren't released, had decided to summit the mountain during a road trip, Alpine Rescue Team public information officer Jake Smith said. They first called for help around 5 p.m. after getting off course on their way up a technical route. A different route doesn't require climbing gear or expertise. "It doesn't sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,' said Smith, who was among the rescuers on the ground. Rescue officials guided the men back on course, and they made it to the summit. Minutes later, one of them called back to report they had been struck by lightning. About 30 rescuers went up the mountain while another team used a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to get the more seriously injured man, who was nonresponsive and in critical condition, off the peak using a hoist at 14,200 feet (4,330 meters). He was flown down to an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, then to a Denver hospital with a burn unit, Smith said. The helicopter made another trip around midnight to fetch the less seriously hurt man by partially touching down on the mountain. The rescuers believe Colorado's previous record for a helicopter rescue was 13,700 feet (4,175 meters). Such rescues are challenging because thin air causes helicopters to lose lifting ability the higher they fly; the Blackhawk has an altitude limit of about 19,000 feet (5,800 meters). Hikers and climbers often prefer to ascend during the morning and avoid the Rocky Mountain high country on summer afternoons. Thunderstorms are common and can develop suddenly with dangerous lightning, hail and plummeting temperatures.
New York Post
14-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
2 New Yorkers struck by lightning while hiking on Colorado peak were saved in record-high state helicopter rescue
It was a striking view. Two New York men struck by lightning while hiking a Colorado peak were airlifted to safety in what is believed to be the highest-altitude helicopter rescue ever recorded in the state. The duo — who haven't been identified — called for help around 5 p.m. Thursday after getting off course while attempting to climb Torreys Peak, one of the state's highest summits at 14,300 feet. Advertisement 'It didn't sound like they had a ton of experience,' Alpine Rescue Team spokesperson Jack Smith said, noting that the pair decided to summit the peak during a road trip through the Centennial State. 3 The men called for help while attempting to climb Torreys Peak in Colorado. AP 'I think it was probably just a lack of awareness.' Emergency crews had just steered the men back on course when they were zapped by lightning minutes later — leaving one hiker unresponsive and in critical condition. Advertisement About 30 rescuers ascended the mountain while a Colorado National Guard Black Hawk chopper hoisted the injured man off the peak at 14,200 feet. He was then rushed to the burn unit of a Denver hospital, where he remains in fair condition. 3 Alpine Rescue Team at the scene after two New Yorker men were struck by lightning on Torreys Peak. AP Advertisement 3 About 30 rescuers ascended the mountain to help the wounded men. AP The helicopter returned around midnight to rescue the other wounded man, briefly touching down on the mountain before he was treated and released from a nearby hospital. Emergency personnel believe the daring rescue shattered the state's previous record of 13,700 feet — with such missions a challenge due to thinning air reducing a chopper's lift at higher altitudes. The Black Hawk's max ceiling is around 19,000 feet. Advertisement Torreys Peak stands as the 11th-highest summit in Colorado. With Post wires
Toronto Star
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Toronto Star
Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in record-high Colorado helicopter rescues
Rescuers fetched two men struck by lightning from a Colorado peak in what they believe were the highest helicopter rescues on record in this mountainous state. One man remained hospitalized in fair condition Friday while the other was treated at a hospital and released. The rescues happened late Thursday near the summit of Torreys Peak, a 14,300-foot (4,360-meter) mountain about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Denver. Torreys Peak is ranked variously as the 11th or 12th highest summit in Colorado and is less than 200 feet (60 meters) shorter than the state's highest mountain, Mount Elbert. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The men from New York state, whose identities weren't released, had decided to summit the mountain during a road trip, Alpine Rescue Team public information officer Jake Smith said. They first called for help around 5 p.m. after getting off course on their way up a technical route. A different route doesn't require climbing gear or expertise. 'It doesn't sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,' said Smith, who was among the rescuers on the ground. Rescue officials guided the men back on course, and they made it to the summit. Minutes later, one of them called back to report they had been struck by lightning. About 30 rescuers went up the mountain while another team used a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to get the more seriously injured man, who was nonresponsive and in critical condition, off the peak using a hoist at 14,200 feet (4,330 meters). He was flown down to an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, then to a Denver hospital with a burn unit, Smith said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The helicopter made another trip around midnight to fetch the less seriously hurt man by partially touching down on the mountain. The rescuers believe Colorado's previous record for a helicopter rescue was 13,700 feet (4,175 meters). Such rescues are challenging because thin air causes helicopters to lose lifting ability the higher they fly; the Blackhawk has an altitude limit of about 19,000 feet (5,800 meters). Hikers and climbers often prefer to ascend during the morning and avoid the Rocky Mountain high country on summer afternoons. Thunderstorms are common and can develop suddenly with dangerous lightning, hail and plummeting temperatures.
