A climber sustained fatal injuries after falling on Castle Peak, a 14,272-foot mountain south of Aspen, Colorado, officials confirmed Sunday. Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office were alerted to the incident.
Rescue team members reached the individual by approximately 4 p.m. but determined the injuries were not survivable. Nearby hikers reportedly witnessed the fall.
A 21-member rescue team utilized off-highway vehicles and helicopters to access the remote location. The fallen climber was recovered and evacuated from the mountain shortly after 8 p.m.
Rescuers reached nearly 13,000 feet in under two hours, despite the holiday weekend and the challenging terrain. Witnesses described the response as swift and compassionate, noting that the victim was not alone in his final moments.