A backcountry skier was rescued from a Colorado wilderness area this weekend.

According to the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call was received at about 12:18 p.m. on April 25 related to a backcountry skier who had been injured and immobilized in the James Peak Wilderness Area. Search and rescue teams quickly deployed, with the sheriff’s office utilizing a drone to work to locate the injured skier.

An SOS message sent via a satellite further aided in the search for the skier in the remote terrain, with a group of three found near Forest Lake. This area is located about five miles northeast of Winter Park, through rugged and mountainous terrain.

By about 3:49 p.m., rescuers made contact with the injured skier and by 5:51 p.m., the team started assisting in getting the skier out of the backcountry. By 7:44 p.m., the three skiers were out of the area and the operation concluded.

A key thing to highlight related to the rescue mission was the use of the satellite device that assisted in the emergency response teams locating the skier in a timely manner. While drones can be helpful, wilderness is vast and often comes with tree cover. This makes satellite communication devices crucial when it comes to pinning down exactly where someone in need of rescue is located.

The sheriff’s office expressed thanks to the rescue teams that were involved, including Alpine Rescue Team, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Timberline Fire Protection District, and Gilpin Ambulance Authority.

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