Black Hawk helicopter makes two separate Pitkin County rescues in same morning
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A Black Hawk helicopter from the Colorado Army National Guard made two seperate rescues in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness on Wednesday, June 25.
On Tuesday evening, Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch received a call from two hikers who were stranded at 13,000 feet on the north face of Capitol Peak after they attempted to find a shorter route down.
The hikers were told to hold tight overnight, and at 6 a.m., Mountain Rescue Aspen hoist rescue personnel were picked up by the Black Hawk helicopter and brought to Capitol Peak to make the rescue.
A snow shower and lightning delayed the operation briefly, but they were eventually able to locate the two men.
While making that rescue, MRA received an additional call that morning about a teenager suffering from altitude sickness at Snowmass Lake. MRA was able to communicate with people at the lake via a Garmin inReach, a GPS-tracking and satellite communications device, and learned that the 17-year-old suffered from asthma. The teen was experiencing shortness of breath and vomiting, which can be symptoms of altitude sickness. As communication continued, it was reported that the teenager began to foam at the mouth.
The same Black Hawk helicopter used in the Capitol Peak incident was able to make the second rescue. Upon arrival at Snowmass lake, an MRA hoist-rescue technician was able to get the teenager into the helicopter.
All rescue personnel were out of the field by 11 a.m., Wednesday.
In the press release distributed from Pitkin County, it was noted that climbers on Capitol Peak should be aware that it is not a “walk-up” peak. Climbers need to carry proper gear, which includes food, water, a helmet, a communication device, and bright-colored, warm clothing.
Climbers should always 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,” the press release states.
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