At 3pm on Monday, October 20th, Colorado’s Alpine Rescue Team was paged to assist a patient who had fallen and suffered a lower leg injury just below the summit of Mt. Bierstadt, one of the state’s most popular 14er. The injury prevented the hiker from walking.
Alpine Rescue Team, Clear Creek EMS, and Clear Creek Fire Authority began working up Guanella Pass in response. Rescue deployment was also requested from Flight For Life Colorado. Further assistance was requested from Arapahoe Rescue Patrol and Park County Search and Rescue.
Weather made the rescue mission significantly more challenging with winds sustained at 20-30mph at the summit and gusting up to 60mpg. As such, flights into the field was impossible and rescue members were forced to climb 2,500 feet on foot to perform a carry out from just below the mountain’s summit.
Fortunately all teams were out of the field by midnight. This is the second rescue Alpine Rescue Team has conducted on Bierstadt in just a few days. The patient and reporting part was prepared with warm layers, food, and water to sustain them throughout the 9 hour operation, but the public is reminded to be prepared for very cold temperatures and ice on the trail during this time of year.
