Aspen rescuers were called to Smuggler Mountain Friday evening to rescue a trio of hikers who were lost in a snowstorm.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office was notified at about 8 p.m. that an emergency-locator beacon had been activated on Smuggler Mountain Road, which climbs the mountain located on Aspen’s northeast flank. The sheriff’s office was able to make phone contact with the owner of the beacon, who was among the group of lost hikers. Authorities were advised that the party was several miles up the road and that one individual in the group was possibly dehydrated and hypothermic.

Mountain Rescue Aspen sent a team of two snowmobiles up the road and brought the hikers to safety. One individual was taken to Aspen Valley Hospital.

---

---

The rescue team was off the mountain by 11 p.m., the sheriff’s office said.

The Garfield County board of commissioners will host a meeting with Scott Tipton, the newly elected U.S. congressman for District 3, which includes Garfield County, on Dec. 14 in Rifle.

---

---

The meeting will take place at 9 a.m. in the county airport administration building, 0375 County Road 352.

The public is invited, and will have an opportunity to ask questions of their new representative.