Climbing
A solo hiker was rescued Saturday morning after spending a night lost on Mount Shavano in Colorado’s Sawatch Range. The man, part of a 15-person office retreat, became disoriented while descending from the 14,229-foot summit on Friday afternoon.
Despite being part of a 15-person office retreat, the hiker completed the final summit push alone. This separation occurred after some group members turned back at the saddle, while others summited earlier and began their descent. The hiker’s solo status became a factor when he became disoriented during his descent, losing the markers left by his colleagues and veering off course. Communication attempts with his coworkers via text messages and pin drops were made but proved insufficient as weather conditions worsened and cell signal was lost. The hiker’s isolation continued until his rescue the following day.
” In what might cause some awkward encounters at the office in the coming days and weeks, one member of their party was left to complete his final summit push alone.”
Chaffee County Search and Rescue South (CCSAR-S) launched a search operation at 9 p.m. Friday after the hiker’s coworkers reported him overdue. Freezing rain and high winds hampered initial rescue efforts, forcing teams to suspend their summit attempt.
The search resumed Saturday morning with reinforcements from multiple Colorado rescue organizations. As teams prepared to deploy, the hiker regained cell service and called 911, pinpointing his location in a gully below Espirit Point.
Rescuers found the man in the North Fork drainage, having fallen multiple times on steep slopes. The extraction required technical rope maneuvers and cooperation among various teams. The hiker was stabilized and transported to a hospital for further evaluation.
CCSAR officials emphasized the importance of hiking with a partner and carrying essential gear, including bright clothing. They noted the hiker’s fortunate regaining of cell service, which expedited his rescue from a challenging location.
