Aspen rescuers aid hiker at Conundrum Hot Springs

ASPEN – Two Mountain Rescue Aspen members were sent to Conundrum Hot Springs Saturday evening to assist an individual in distress, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office received an emergency signal from a hand-held locator device at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. The signal came from the Conundrum area. The hot springs, a popular hiking and backpacking destination, are located about 7 miles west of Aspen in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area.

A two-man Mountain Rescue “hasty team” reached the hot springs at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday. The victim was in distress, but stable, according to a press release issued Monday by the sheriff’s office. She was in the company of others; her distress was medical in nature, according to Deputy David Novak, who could offer no other details except that she is a resident of the Roaring Fork Valley. Another hiker at Conundrum activated a beacon to send the emergency signal, he said.

On Sunday at about 9:30 a.m., after giving the victim some food and water, rescuers began assisting her down the 8.5-mile Conundrum Creek Trail. Other Mountain Rescue members headed up the lower part of the trail to bring the rescuers and victim supplies.

The victim’s condition improved as the group progressed and the individual was able to walk out with rescuers, according to the press release, issued by Deputy David Novak.

The group reached the trail parking area at about 4:30 p.m. and the victim was taken to Aspen Valley Hospital, according to the sheriff’s office.