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Climber killed on Capitol

Aspen Times Staff Report

An unidentified climber died in a fall from Capitol Peak, in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area on Thursday.

The climber was swept down the steep, west face of the mountain in a rockslide, from a false summit or sub-peak known as K2, on the ridge of the mountain. The accident was reported by cellular phone to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office by a member of the climber’s party at 12:06 p.m.

The climber who reported the accident told the Sheriff’s department the victim had fallen about 300 feet, and had died in the rockslide.



Debbie Kelly, president of Mountain Rescue Aspen, said a member of her organization noted the location of the body from a fixed-wing plane Thursday afternoon. She said recovery of the body won’t be attempted until this morning, because of rainy weather and thunderstorms Thursday.

No further information was available Thursday night.