Colorado’s Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue (AVSAR) was called in to assist with the rescue of a hiker in distress on November 17. According to a Facebook post from the organization, the hiker set out into the Sangre de Cristo range that morning with the goal of reaching at camping at Willow Lake, but had taken 10 hours to complete the five mile hike in the cold. By the time the hiker called for rescue, he could no longer feel his feet and was unable to walk.
Incident Command Staff requested helicopter assistance at REACH 71 accepted the mission, attempting to fly over the hiker’s location and land to extract the individual. Unfortunately no suitable landing zone could be found, so two AVSAR team members were inserted instead, arriving at the hiker’s location by 3:30am.
The team members assessed the hikers situation, noting that he was showing signs of acute mountain sickness and was borderline hypothermic. He was wearing all his layers upon their arrival, with trail running shoes on his feet. Warming pads, hot liquids, and a fire were used to warm the hiker and his condition had greatly improved within a few hours. Unfortunately he was still unable to make the five mile hike out of the field, and helicopter assistance and ground teams were requested to help.
REACH 71 once again accepted the mission, extracting the hiker by 10:30am. The two AVSAR team members and all of the hiker’s gear was then extracted, and all team members were out of the field by 12:00pm.
AVSAR wants to remind everyone to be prepared for changing weather in the Sangre Sangre de Cristo range, especially during the winter. When deep snow and freezing temperatures are present, simple trail running shoes are not adequate for travel. Hikers should know their limits and know when to stop and turn around for their own safety and the safety of rescuers.
“Have the proper gear for the environment you are in and know how to use it- the hiker had a stove, but when the striker on the stove did not work, he assumed it was broken. Had the stove worked, he could have possibly warmed himself enough to get out.” – AVSAR