Rescue Teams Save Stranded Hiker on 14,115-Foot Pikes Peak

A stranded hiker is safe tonight after multiple rescue teams spent Sunday night and early Monday morning carrying them down from nearly 12,000 feet on Pikes Peak in freezing conditions.

The hiker became injured near treeline on Colorado's famous 14,115-foot mountain, about eight miles up the challenging Barr Trail. When rescue crews arrived, they found the person unable to walk down on their own.

What followed was described as a "lengthy and physically demanding carryout" down slick, icy terrain in the dark. The teams had to navigate 5,000 feet of vertical descent while carrying the injured hiker through winter conditions that included frigid temperatures and strong winds.

Seven different organizations answered the call. El Paso County Search and Rescue led the mission, joined by Arapahoe Rescue Patrol, Teller County Search and Rescue, Colorado Springs Fire Department, Colorado Search and Rescue, UC Health Lifeline, and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

The teams worked together seamlessly to provide medical care on the mountain and safely transport the hiker down. Personnel at Barr Camp, a historic shelter along the trail, also played a crucial role in the successful rescue.

The Ripple Effect

This rescue highlights the incredible network of volunteer search and rescue teams across Colorado who train year-round for moments like this. These volunteers leave their warm homes in the middle of winter nights, climb thousands of feet in dangerous conditions, and carry strangers to safety.

Their coordination shows what communities can accomplish when multiple organizations work together toward a single goal. Seven different teams, each bringing specialized skills and equipment, united to save one life.

The mission also serves as a powerful reminder for winter hikers. Colorado's fourteeners demand serious preparation during cold months, including proper gear, knowledge of avalanche risk, and awareness that conditions can change quickly.

Thanks to the skill and determination of these rescue volunteers, another hiker gets to go home to their loved ones.