http://www.MountainRescueAspen.org/

Mountain Rescue Aspen, 37925 Highway 82, Aspen, CO (2026)

10/11/2026

A great day for some team training on Independence Pass.

10/08/2026

Winter is coming and the stoke. is. HIGH. Are YOU ready to get outside? Join Aspen Public Radio for the third-annual Backcountry Symposium at TACAW: Saturday, October 17th, with events from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Come for a little, stay for a lot — and RSVP now to get your name in the raffle for gear! More info at aspenpublicradio.org.

09/17/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Mountain Rescue Aspen and partner emergency response agencies responded Wednesday afternoon to a medical emergency involving a 29-year-old backpacker at the Conundrum Hot Springs area.

Emergency services were initially contacted through satellite communication after the backpacker’s companions reported that the subject was experiencing difficulty breathing and involuntary muscle spasms, and required immediate medical assistance.
Responders were able to establish two-way communication with the group and confirm the subject’s location. A Mountain Rescue Aspen hasty team was deployed into the area while additional rescuers staged at the trailhead.

An air ambulance was requested to assist with the evacuation. However, deteriorating weather conditions in the Conundrum area, including rain and lightning, prevented the helicopter from reaching the patient. The aircraft remained on standby but was unable to provide the requested evacuation because of continued weather limitations. With a helicopter evacuation off the table, additional Mountain Rescue Aspen teams continued into the field to support the nighttime carryout amidst the worsening storm.

By early evening, rescuers reached the patient and reported that they were stable, alert, and able to walk short distances. After consultation with rescuers and medical personnel, the patient and their companions elected to remain at their campsite overnight rather than accept a nighttime litter evacuation. After assessing the patient and interviewing a pair of nurses that had provided initial care, the rescuers began the 8 mile hike out to the trailhead. All teams had returned to the base by 10:00 PM.

This incident is a reminder that weather and terrain can significantly affect emergency response times in Colorado’s backcountry. Visitors traveling into remote areas are encouraged to carry appropriate emergency supplies, maintain reliable means of communication, monitor weather conditions, and have a contingency plan for delayed evacuation.

In recent years, Mountain Rescue Aspen has responded to a growing number of calls in the Conundrum Hot Springs area in which impairment from alcohol or other substances was a contributing factor. Conundrum Hot Springs sits above 11,000 feet and is reached only by a long hike with substantial elevation gain. At that altitude, alcohol, cannabis, and other substances have stronger and less predictable effects than they do at lower elevations. Combined with prolonged immersion in hot water, dehydration, and physical exertion, they can contribute to fainting, heat illness, impaired judgment, and breathing or cardiac symptoms, and they can mask or mimic the early signs of altitude illness. Backcountry users are strongly encouraged to understand the additional risks associated with substance use in remote, high-altitude environments and to make conservative decisions about their health and safety before entering the backcountry.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the all-volunteer team members of Mountain Rescue Aspen and Careflight for their assistance with this mission.

09/10/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – On Thursday, September 10, 2026, at approximately 9:05 AM, the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received an emergency request via satellite from a hiker in the Snowmass Lake area. The hiker reported being unable to keep water down, feeling extremely weak, and being unsure whether they could make it off the mountain.
The hiker’s location was determined to be approximately one mile from the summit of Buckskin Pass on the Snowmass Lake side, at an elevation of approximately 10,843 feet. Due to the remote location and the hiker’s reported medical condition, the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA).

Flight for Life Colorado was dispatched to the area while MRA assembled and deployed ground teams from the Maroon Lake Trailhead. The helicopter located and assessed the hiker, then transported the hiker from the backcountry. Despite the reported medical concerns that prompted the emergency response, the hiker declined further medical evaluation and care after the flight.

MRA ground teams returned to the trailhead. All rescuers returned safely from the field.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that Mountain Rescue Aspen and helicopter assets are limited resources serving a large and challenging backcountry area. Their availability can be affected by weather, distance, and other ongoing emergencies. These resources are essential for true emergencies, and the public is encouraged to use emergency services responsibly and to carefully assess whether a situation requires a rescue response. Before heading into the backcountry, visitors should be realistic about their physical abilities and experience, understand the difficulty of the terrain they select, and plan accordingly. Hikers should also be prepared for changing mountain conditions, carry adequate food, water, clothing, and emergency supplies, and bring a reliable two-way satellite communication device.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the all volunteer team of Mountain Rescue Aspen and Flight for Life Colorado for their assistance and continued service to the community.

(Stock image)

09/08/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Mountain Rescue Aspen, with support from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, successfully completed the recovery of a subject from the east face of Maroon Peak. The subject was recovered from steep, unstable terrain at an elevation of approximately 13,200 feet, at approximately 9:45 a.m. Mountain Time. To safely conduct recovery operations, the United States Forest Service issued a closure of Maroon Peak that remained in effect throughout the mission.

Rescuers began the mission shortly after midnight, and ground and technical rescue teams worked through the night to reach, and further secure, the area. At first light, Flight for Life Colorado inserted three MRA technical climbers on the ridge south of Maroon Peak. From there, the MRA climbers ascended for approximately one hour to a point roughly 1,000 feet above the subject’s location, then rappelled a feature known as the Y Couloir to reach the scene. Once on scene, the team prepared the subject for extraction.

The mission required a helicopter capable of hoist or long line extraction, and no aircraft with that capability was available in Colorado. The Utah Department of Public Safety Aviation Unit stepped in, providing a specialty hoist capable helicopter based out of Salt Lake City. That aircraft extracted the subject from the site and flew the subject to T Lazy 7 Ranch where the Pitkin County Coroner was located. Flight for Life Colorado then returned to Maroon Peak to extract the three MRA climbers from the mountain.

Final identification of the subject will be conducted by the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office.

Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office encourage those traveling in the backcountry to leave a detailed itinerary with a trusted person before departing, including the intended route, expected return time, and contingency plans. Backcountry travelers may also want to carry appropriate equipment, prepare for rapidly changing mountain conditions, and bring a reliable two way satellite communication device when traveling in areas without cellular service.

Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office have profound gratitude for the partnerships and support that made this mission possible. Sincere thanks go to the all volunteer team of Mountain Rescue Aspen, the Utah Department of Public Safety Aviation Unit, Flight for Life Colorado, CareFlight of the Rockies, the United States Forest Service, Pitkin County Open Space & Trails, and T Lazy 7 Ranch. This mission could not have been completed as safely without these partnerships.

09/07/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – On Sunday, September 6, 2026, the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a fallen climber on the north face of Castle Peak, south of Aspen, Colorado. Due to the location and proximity of the incident, Gunnison County requested assistance from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office at 12:41 p.m.

Mountain Rescue Aspen deployed team members via OHV to the upper Montezuma parking lot while Flight for Life located the climber from the air. Flight for Life then returned to Aspen to transport additional Mountain Rescue Aspen team members to the area. Mountain Rescue Aspen personnel reached the climber at approximately 3:58 p.m. and determined the individual had sustained injuries that were not survivable. Team members then carefully evacuated the climber from the mountain using a technical lowering system. A total of 21 members were fielded and all team members were out of the field at 8:14 p.m.

Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office encourage those traveling in the backcountry to be prepared for their outing, familiarize themselves with their route and conditions, and understand the limits of their experience and abilities.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the all-volunteer team members of Mountain Rescue Aspen and Flight for Life for their assistance with this mission.

09/04/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an overdue climber believed to be in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The subject’s intended route and itinerary were not initially known.

After further investigation, information and notes were discovered in the subject’s rental vehicle related to climbing the Maroon Bells. Based on this information, Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) focused search efforts in the Maroon Bells area.

On the morning of Thursday, September 3rd, MRA coordinated with CareFlight of the Rockies to conduct an aerial search of the area. An MRA member accompanied the CareFlight crew to assist with the search. During the aerial search, the climber was located deceased and tentatively identified in very technical and difficult terrain to access.

Recovery is planned for Tuesday, September 8th. To safely perform recovery operations, the United States Forest Service has issued a closure of Maroon Peak. Please see the attached Forest Service notification. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/maroon-peak-climbing-access-closed-sept-8

Confirmation and final identification of the climber will be conducted after the recovery is complete. The family of the missing climber has been notified.

Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office remind those traveling in the backcountry to leave a detailed itinerary with a trusted person before departing, including the intended route, expected return time, and contingency plans. Backcountry travelers should also carry appropriate equipment, be prepared for rapidly changing mountain conditions, and carry a reliable two-way satellite communication device when traveling in areas without cellular service.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the all-volunteer team of Mountain Rescue Aspen and CareFlight of the Rockies for their assistance with this mission.

09/04/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – On Thursday, September 3, 2026, at approximately 3:06 PM, the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received an emergency message via satellite from a hiker reporting a severe ankle injury approximately five miles from the Maroon Lake trailhead in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.

Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) was notified of the incident and mobilized four field teams to respond to the subject’s location. Field team members made contact with the subject at approximately 6:19 PM. After assessing the subject and preparing the subject for evacuation, rescuers placed the subject in a litter and began the approximately five-mile evacuation back toward the trailhead. Upon arrival, the subject was transferred to Aspen Ambulance for further medical care. All field teams were out of the field by 10:00 PM. A total of 18 MRA members were involved.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office and Mountain Rescue Aspen remind hikers and other backcountry users to be prepared for unexpected injuries and emergencies when traveling in remote terrain. Carry appropriate clothing, food, water, navigation equipment, emergency supplies, and carry a two-way satellite communication device.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the all volunteer team of Mountain Rescue Aspen and Aspen Ambulance for their work in this backcountry rescue.

08/31/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – On Saturday, August 29, 2026 Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office and Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) responded to a report of three hikers stranded at approximately 11,000 feet in the Avalanche Creek area.

The group, a parent and two juvenile children, reported being unable to safely descend and had limited food, water and communication capabilities. CareFlight of the Rockies located the hikers and assisted with their evacuation from the area.

MRA and Sheriff’s Office personnel coordinated the rescue response, with rescuers meeting the helicopter at the Redstone Coke Ovens.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office reminds backcountry users to be prepared for changing mountain conditions and to carry adequate food, water, navigation equipment and reliable emergency communication devices.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the all volunteer team of Mountain Rescue Aspen and CareFlight of the Rockies for their assistance.

08/17/2026

On Sunday, Aspen Fire responded to Aspen Mountain for a reported midair collision between a hang glider and a paraglider. Crews performed a raise of more than 1,000 feet to reach an injured pilot who was unable to self-extricate, and transferred the patient to Aspen Ambulance for care.

"It was a smooth operation and a coordinated effort," said Lieutenant Lewin.

Aspen Fire Protection District extends its appreciation to Aspen Ambulance, Mountain Rescue Aspen, and Aspen Mountain Patrol, and to the volunteers and support staff who made this operation possible.

Mountain Rescue Aspen

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