Solo hiker ‘couldn’t feel their feet’ while stranded near Colorado summit, rescuers say
An “extremely cold” solo hiker called for help from near the summit of a Colorado mountain when they “couldn’t feel their feet,” rescuers said.
The hiker reported at about 7:30 p.m. that while they were not injured, they weren’t prepared to spend a night on the mountain, Chaffee County Search and Rescue North said in a Nov. 3 Facebook post.
They were climbing Mt. Columbia, a very high mountain peak of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. The summit has an elevation of more than 14,000 feet, making it one of 58 “14ers” in the state.
“With temperatures dropping the risk of cold related injuries was of major concern,” the rescue organization said.
A rescue team brought warming equipment and other supplies to the trailhead, and a rescue helicopter dropped a team member off with the supplies to start warming the hiker up.
High winds on the peak made a helicopter rescue impossible, so the hiker and team members hiked out and were back by 5:30 a.m.
“As the season changes, a friendly reminder to check the latest forecast and be prepared for brutal winter conditions in the high country,” the rescue organization said. “Weather can change quick and it’s always good to have the 10 essentials!”
The organization posted a visual guide of the 10 essentials: sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen); insulation (extra clothes for cold weather); nutrition; navigation tools; first aid; water; headlamp or flashlight and batteries; emergency shelter; repair kit and tools; and a way to make fire, such as a lighter, waterproof matches and firestarter.
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 3:22 PM with the headline "Solo hiker ‘couldn’t feel their feet’ while stranded near Colorado summit, rescuers say."
