Rescue mission on Colorado 14er complicated by subject's choice of clothing

Colorado's Alpine Rescue Team sprung into action this week to save someone on a rugged class-three ridgeline between two Colorado fourteeners. While the mission was ultimately successful, it was complicated by what the rescue subject was wearing.

According to a press release from the team, a call for help came in at about 9 a.m. on Monday due to a person who was reportedly injured on the Sawtooth ridge that runs between Mount Blue Sky and Mount Bierstadt. This ridge is located above 13,000 feet of elevation, known for being rocky and exposed.

After the report came in, 19 members of the Alpine Rescue Team sprung into action on Guanella Pass, with limited information given to the team indicating that the rescue subject had a lower leg injury and had possibly experienced a loss of consciousness.

The situation also prompted rescuers to request a Flight for Life to come to the scene, which worked to shuttle members of the crew and gear to the bench located below the Mount Bierstadt summit. A hasty team was also sent in on foot due to deteriorating weather conditions, aiming to reach the summit as quickly as possible.

The rescue subject was reached while still on the ridgeline and was able to move with assistance after being splinted. The team then worked to hike the rescue subject out along with two of the subject's climbing partners.

The Alpine Rescue Team pointed out a major takeaway related to the mission – hikers and other outdoor recreators should wear brightly colored clothing when in the backcountry, as this can help people stand out amid an otherwise earthy landscape. In this rescue, the subject couldn't been seen by trained rescue spotters over the course of multiple flyovers. When crews are unable to locate a subject, it can add to the response time and mean effort is spent to locate the subject instead of being spent elsewhere.

Alpine Rescue Team thanked Flight for Life Colorado, the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office, and Jeffcom 911 for their assistance in the mission.

If you're interested in supporting Colorado's volunteer-powered search and rescue operation, one way to do so is through the purchase of a CORSAR card . It's cheap, at only $5 per year.

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