A solo climber in Colorado who got cliffed out over the weekend after sliding 400-feet downhill activated his emergency beacon summoning seven members of Chaffee County Search & Rescue North (CCSARN)
to his location between Missouri Mountain and Elkhead Pass. Due to high winds the rescuers couldn’t use a helicopter and had to hike in. Rescuers found the man uninjured and were able to lower him down a 100 foot cliff band and he was able hike out under his own power. Here is the rescue report from CCSARN:
“On Saturday, May 28th, 2022 at 0940 Chaffee County Search & Rescue – North was paged out for a solo climber who was cliffed-out below the ridge between the summit of Missouri Mountain and Elkhead Pass.
He slid approximately 400 feet down from the ridge and was stranded on top of a 100 foot tall cliff band at 13,400′. He was unable to ascend or descend from his position, so he activated an emergency distress call from his personal locator beacon. Due to high winds in the area SAR was unable to insert a team via helicopter.
CCSAR-N fielded a team of seven climbers who hiked in from the Missouri Gulch Trailhead, and were able to stage just below the climber’s position. From there, a team of two CCSAR-N climbers ascended a couloir just west of the subject and then traversed over to his location. They were able to lower the subject to a snow field below the cliff band and then rappel down as well. The climber was uninjured, and able to hike out to the Missouri Gulch Trailhead with the CCSAR-N team. All CCSAR-N personnel were out of the field by 1930.
Over the past several years, CCSAR-N has responded to a number of calls in the area of the ridge between Missouri Mountain and Elkhead Pass. It can be a very challenging descent with mixed 3rd and 4th class terrain. Winter/Spring conditions can make it even more challenging. Please do your research and ensure you are well prepared before attempting this route.”
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