Injured skier near Aspen triggers rescue operation

ASPEN – High winds thwarted attempts to rescue an injured skier with use of a helicopter Sunday evening south of Aspen. The rescue was put on hold until Monday morning, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities were notified of the injuried skier at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Deputies determined the skier was at the base of Star Peak, in an area south of the Ashcroft ghost town in the Castle Creek Valley. Ashcroft is located 14 miles south of Aspen.

Mountain Rescue Aspen responded along with the sheriff’s office.

The injured man’s skiing partner told deputies his partner had fallen while descending Star Peak, suffering an injury to his left leg. Two attempts to rescue the injured skier were made by Flight For Life helicopters. The first attempt was at 7:23 p.m. and the second attempt occurred after dusk, at 11:13 p.m. Both attempts were canceled by the pilots because of high winds in the rescue area.

Six Mountain Rescue members remained overnight Sunday at the Lindley Hut, from which the two skiers had departed earlier in the day. Rescuers planned to attempt to reach the injured man early Monday, when snow conditions in the rescue area are most stable.