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Climber rescued on Independence Pass

Staff report

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office received information around 2:45 p.m. today about an injured climber at the Ptarmigan Creek area, near mile 52 on Independence Pass. The reporting party used the call box near Difficult Campground to alert authorities of a 54-year-old female that was injured from a falling rock that needed assistance. Volunteers from Mountain Rescue Aspen were deployed into the field from the C.B. Cameron Rescue Center.

The patient was contacted by a deputy from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, medics from the Aspen Ambulance District, and Mountain Rescue Aspen teams around 3:30 p.m. She was medically evaluated and a high angle extraction was executed.

Around 5:09 p.m., Mountain Rescue Aspen arrived with the patient at the intersection of Highway 82 and Ptarmigan Creek. She was placed into an awaiting ambulance and transported to Aspen Valley Hospital. All Mountain Rescue Aspen personnel were safely out of the field by 5:45 p.m.



The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone using the backcountry to be aware of hazards and to use appropriate caution.