A backcountry skier died Friday while touring with two others toward Margy’s Hut, a 10th Mountain Division hut about six miles northeast of Lenado near Aspen. The skier lost motor skills and then consciousness in snowy terrain about three miles northeast of Lenado. The incident was reported around 6:40pm, prompting a backcountry rescue response from Mountain Rescue Aspen. Rescuers were informed that the skier was experiencing agonal breathing and that CPR was underway. When the first rescue team arrived by snowmobile at approximately 8:45pm, the skier had died. The skier and companions were transported to the trailhead, and the skier was transferred to the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office.
Mountain Rescue Aspen Statement:
A deceased backcountry skier was recovered after a reported medical event on Larkspur Rd. approximately three miles northeast of Lenado. Three people had been touring through snowy terrain up to Margy’s Hut when one of the subjects reportedly lost their motor skills and could not continue. Margy’s Hut is part of the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association and is located approximately six miles northeast of Lenado.
The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center (Dispatch) received the medical call at approximately 6:40 p.m. The call was forwarded to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, who in turn notified Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA), as a backcountry rescue would be necessary.
While MRA volunteers were mobilizing, Dispatch was notified that the patient had lost consciousness, the patient was experiencing agonal breathing, and CPR was in progress. By the time the first MRA field team arrived on scene at approximately 8:45 p.m., via snowmobiles, the subject was deceased.
MRA field members transported the deceased skier and the remaining parties back to the trailhead. MRA transferred custody of the deceased skier to the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office.
