Pitkin County, Colorado — An injured backcountry skier was evacuated by Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) ground teams.
The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received a medical SOS at approximately 11:46 AM Sunday morning from the Lindley Hut area which is is part of the Alfred Braun Hut System is located in the Elk Mountains between Aspen and Crested Butte. One member out of a party had sustained a knee injury. The call was forwarded to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, who in turn notified Mountain Rescue Aspen as a backcountry rescue would be necessary.
Three members of Mountain Rescue Aspen were skiing in the area. After communicating directly with the party, Mountain Rescue dispatched the team members in the field, as well as a team of three members from the MRA cabin with additional equipment.
The subject and their party were able to begin self-extricating, which helped speed up the rescue. MRA was able to retrieve the emergency sled from the Lindley hut and rendezvous with the patient. MRA was able to evacuate the patient from the field. All team members were out of the field at 3:00 PM. In total, 16 MRA members were involved.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the dedicated, all-volunteer team at Mountain Rescue Aspen, for their continued service to the community. Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind backcountry skiers to always be prepared and carry a satellite communication device for emergencies. This spring season, hazards exist close to the surface and we encourage backcountry travelers to be cautious.
