Alpine Rescue Team was once again called out for a rescue on 14,065-foot Mount Bierstadt, with the lengthy mission taking place on Monday, October 20.

According to a report from the team, a first call about the situation was received at about 3 p.m., reporting that a hiker had fallen just below the summit of the peak, resulting in an immobilizing lower leg injury.

Rescue crews of Alpine Rescue Team sprang into action on Guanella Pass, assisted by Clear Creek EMS and Clear Creek Fire Authority. While a Flight for Life helicopter was requested, too, weather posed a major challenge for aerial assets.

Sustained winds in the area of the peak were blowing at about 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts reaching double that at 60 miles per hour. With these conditions making flights impossible, the entire rescue team resorted to climbing the peak themselves, ascending about 2,500 feet to the injured hiker (keep in mind, the standard route to the summit of this peak means an elevation gain of about 2,850 feet, showing how close to the top of the peak the injury occurred).

Assistance from Arapahoe Rescue Patrol and Park County Search and Rescue was requested for a “long and strenuous carry out” of the hiker. By midnight, all team members and the rescue subject were out of the field.

According to Alpine Rescue Team, this is their second rescue mission that’s taken place on Mount Bierstadt in as many days. A few lessons can be learned from this mission, including that search and rescue operations can be long – it’s important for hikers to be prepared to wait it out in wintery conditions, this mission took nine hours despite it taking place on what’s often considered one of the state’s ‘easier’ fourteener climbs. Additionally, this time of the year can mean much colder temperatures (feeling especially cold when an immobilizing injury slows someone down) as well as ice and snow on the trail resulting in slick conditions.

Colorado’s search and rescue effort is volunteer-powered. If you’re interested in helping to support that effort, find more information here.