An initial recovery attempt involved a coordinated response from Grand County Search and Rescue, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder County Emergency Services, Colorado Hoist Rescue Team (CHRT), Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Colorado Search and Rescue, the Colorado Army National Guard, and the Alpine Rescue Team. Adverse weather conditions and dangerous terrain prevented the teams from safely reaching the hiker. A physician aboard the helicopter during the initial attempt had determined that the hiker had not survived the fall.
On September 6, a second attempt was made by Grand County Search and Rescue, the Alpine Rescue Team, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, and Med Evac. However, the steep, rugged terrain surrounding Arikaree Peak once again made conditions too dangerous for a recovery.
“Our teams made every possible effort to safely reach the site of the fall, but conditions remain too dangerous for us to proceed,” said Greg Foley, Grand County Search and Rescue Field Director. “The safety of our personnel must come first.
After careful assessment, a final multi-agency decision was made to halt further recovery efforts, as the extreme risks posed to team members outweighed the potential for a safe retrieval. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office and Grand County Coroner’s Office have been in contact with the victim’s family. This incident underscores the dangers of backcountry travel in technical terrain and the extreme challenges of rescue operations in such remote areas.
The hiker has not been identified.
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