Climber who died on Christiana Peak Monday was bouldering when he fell 200 feet

A 41-year-old climber died on Christiana Peak after falling 200 feet Monday afternoon when a piece of rock he was using as a hold flaked off, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.

The body of Travis Boyle of Union, Kentucky, was taken out of the backcountry west of Capitol Peak by 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Sheriff’s Office statement.

Boyle and a companion were bouldering and not using ropes when the fall occurred, Deputy Alex Burchetta said. Boyle’s companion became stranded on the cliff band at 12,751 feet after Boyle fell. The companion was lowered to safety around 11 p.m. after members of Mountain Rescue Aspen reached him, Burchetta said.

The rescue volunteers were taken into the wilderness by a helicopter provided by Flight for Life out of Frisco around 7:50 p.m., according to the statement. The two volunteers and the four remaining members of the climbing party spent the night at Capitol Peak.

Six more volunteers hiked into the area around 7 a.m. Tuesday and helped recover Boyle’s body, according to the statement. The climbing party walked out around 10:30 a.m.

Boyle was said to be “experienced” in the backcountry, Burchetta said.