⚠️ ARTICLE CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported that the number of Colorado helicopter hoist rescues in June had doubled since 2024. This has been corrected to report that the number of hoist rescue requests have doubled. Not all hoist rescue requests are granted.
PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO — A 20-year-old solo climber is recovering at Aspen Valley Hospital after a dramatic helicopter hoist on Maroon Peak Wednesday, thanks to the quick thinking of a fellow mountaineer, 14 volunteer rescuers from Mountain Rescue Aspen and a Black Hawk crew from the Colorado Army National Guard’s High-Altitude Aviation Training Site (HAATS).
According to a press release from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, a climber on the 14,163-foot summit ridge witnessed the victim fall an estimated 200 feet to 13,622 feet at 10:02 a.m. and immediately scrambled down to render aid. That eyewitness call set off a multi-agency response spanning two counties.
The incident is part of a spike in recent helicopter rescue requests in Colorado, with the reported number of hoist requests doubling from 2024-2025. The pattern includes multiple 14ers, like Quandary Peak, Torreys Peak, Capitol Peak, and Snowmass Mountain.
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Rescuers established cell-phone contact with the reporting party while dispatchers coordinated a hoist request through the Colorado Search and Rescue Association. The HAATS helicopter picked up two MRA hoist technicians at Aspen Airport, reached the patient at 12:22 p.m. and winched him aboard in deteriorating afternoon weather. A waiting Aspen Ambulance crew transported the climber to definitive care. All personnel were clear of the field by 2:41 p.m.
Maroon Peak and its twin, North Maroon, are notorious for loose, down-sloping rock; the pair accounted for roughly 20 climbing fatalities between 2000 and 2015, the most of any Colorado Fourteener during that period. Statewide, volunteer teams now respond to between 2,800 and 3,000 backcountry incidents every year—an all-time high driven by booming recreation numbers.
Pitkin County authorities used the incident to underscore two oft-repeated points: bring a partner and carry a reliable SOS device. “Having someone who can call for help—and having the tools to reach rescuers even without cell service—can turn a life-threatening situation into a survivable one,” Deputy Franz Zedlacher wrote.
Lessons Learned & Safety Tips
Climb with a partner. Solo travel leaves no margin for error if you’re incapacitated.
Carry satellite communication. Devices such as InReach or ZOLEO work where phones don’t and speed up rescues.
Know Maroon Peak’s rock. The Elk Mountains are famed for rotten, slippery blocks—helmets and precise footwork are non-negotiable.
Research the route thoroughly. Study multiple descriptions and recent condition reports before you go.
Leave a trip plan. Tell a trusted contact where you’re headed and when you’ll be back.
For more Fourteener-specific preparation advice, see the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative’s mountain-safety resources.
Support Colorado’s Volunteer Rescuers
If this successful outcome inspires you, consider buying a $5 CORSAR card (good for one year) to reimburse search-and-rescue expenses and training: https://cpw.state.co.us/backcountry-search-and-rescue-program.
You can also help by opting into the Keep Colorado Wild Pass when you register your vehicle: https://cpw.state.co.us/keep-colorado-wild-pass.
Every purchase directly supports teams like Mountain Rescue Aspen and the hundreds of volunteers who answer the call—day or night, summer or winter—to bring people home safe.
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