Hiker flown by chopper off Sopris after fall
A 74-year-old male hiker was rescued Saturday afternoon on Mount Sopris after falling while descending, the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office said.
The man, who was not identified, is a resident of the Roaring Fork Valley. The sheriff’s office said in a news release he was injured and unable to continue under his own power after the fall.
Fellow hikers were able to notify authorities at about 2:45 p.m., and able to send text messages to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office with updates on his condition.
Members of Mountain Rescue Aspen and Flight for Life responded. Flight for Life located the group at about 4:40 p.m. and was able to land nearby. The man was loaded aboard the helicopter and flown to the Aspen airport, landing at about 5:30 p.m. The man was then taken to Aspen Valley Hospital by ambulance.
The two hikers who were with the man then continued down to their campsite by Thomas Lakes.
Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office also conducted five additional missions Saturday. Those included two lost hikers at the Betty Bear Hut, one injured hiker in Capitol Creek, one overdue horseman in East Creek and one sick hiker at the top of West Maroon Pass.
Some of the incidents were run simultaneously and all were deemed successful, the Pitkin County news release said.
The sheriff’s office reminds all users of the backcountry to be prepared for emergencies and to plan accordingly. This includes specific, detailed plans of the trip and instructions left with a trusted person who can accurately report these details to authorities in the event that a search or a rescue is needed.
If the public has any questions about what kind of information is needed to initiate a search and rescue or any other questions, people can call the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office at 970-920-5300.
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