Two hikers from New York were rescued in a record-setting helicopter operation after being struck by lightning near the summit of Colorado’s Torreys Peak late Thursday, while on the phone with rescue teams, according to a social media post from Alpine Rescue Team.
Alpine Rescue Team responded just before 5 p.m. on June 12 after receiving a distress call from the pair, who had lost their way on the technical Kelso Ridge route. Mission leaders maintained phone contact, guiding the men back to the summit trail. After an hour, the hikers reached the 14,267-foot summit, but as they prepared to descend, lightning struck, knocking one man out and injuring the other.
Within minutes, Alpine Rescue Team, Clear Creek EMS, and Clear Creek Fire Authority mobilized five ground teams, totaling about 30 rescuers, to begin an evacuation. A Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter was also dispatched, carrying two Vail Mountain Rescue Group technicians to the summit. Around 11 p.m., they hoisted the critically injured hiker from 14,200 feet—believed to be the highest helicopter rescue in Colorado’s history, surpassing the previous record of 13,700 feet.
A second Alpine team reached the summit to assist the remaining hiker, who, along with a rescue technician and Alpine members, was airlifted at midnight. All field teams were out of the area by 3 a.m. Friday.
Both men were transported to area hospitals. One remained hospitalized in fair condition Friday; the other was treated and released. Officials have not disclosed their identities.
Jake Smith, Alpine Rescue Team’s public information officer, said the hikers appeared to have limited mountaineering experience. “It doesn’t sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,” Smith told the Associated Press.
Lightning is a persistent threat on Colorado’s fourteeners, particularly during the summer monsoon season. The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative advises early morning ascents to minimize exposure to fast-developing afternoon storms. Thursday’s incident highlights how swiftly conditions can deteriorate above treeline and the need for hikers to carry the ten essentials and prepare for extended evacuations.
Colorado’s search and rescue operations are provided free of charge and are staffed mainly by volunteers who often pay for their own training and equipment. Supporters can contribute by purchasing a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card, which helps reimburse rescue teams for operational costs.
The successful rescue was a coordinated effort involving Alpine Rescue Team, Clear Creek EMS, Clear Creek Fire Authority, Colorado National Guard, Vail Mountain Rescue Group, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, and Jeffcom 911.
