“This kid, he’s like 34 years old, he picks me up, flops me over his shoulders, and he is hustling down it.” –Bev Wedelstedt
They say Colorado is one of the most in shape states in the union and no doubt Bev Wedelstedt is thankful it. CBS Denver reports Bev was up hiking on Grays Peak when she heard a snap in her knee and went down (later diagnosed as torn ACL and meniscus).
Passing hikers came to her aid including a doctor who happened to be on the trail. They improvised a splint but there was no clear option to get her down off the mountain:
“I’m just sitting there, and I’m freaking out because I’m sitting there thinking ‘How am I going to get down?’
Bev’s hiking buddy Donald Adetoye describes what happened next:
“People are amazing people are absolutely amazing. Sure enough, he grabbed her, put her on his back and he started walking down and I said ‘Man, that actually seems like it’s not too bad.”
“This kid, he’s like 34 years old, he picks me up, flops me over his shoulders, and he is hustling down it.” -Wedelstedt
Over the next 3 miles nine strangers took shifts getting Wedelstedt got down the mountain:
“They didn’t know each other. They didn’t know anybody and I’m like ‘Really? We’re here to help you get down.’ I just I couldn’t believe it.”
Eventually the group met up with Alpine Rescue Team volunteers Wedelstedt was loaded into a litter and carried out by a search and rescue team.
“At that point I had realized we had gone 2.5 miles. And at that point I looked around at these guys that are still there. They’re shaking hands and high-fiving and I was like ‘Wow,’This is humanity at its best. These guys really, really care.” -Donald Adetoye
Wedelstedt is scheduled for surgery on her knee in a few weeks and is eager to get out hiking asap. Colorado is full of fit people and good people. If you recognize anyone involved in this rescue makes sure to send them a text and buy them a beer the next time you see them. This is the type of news I love to report. Well done Coloradans!