SAGUACHE COUNTY — A solo hiker was rescued after activating their Garmin inReach device on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 6. This initiated a large-scale multi-agency rescue effort in the Kirk Couloir, a narrow corridor splitting the cliffs between Kit Carson and Challenger peaks. 

At an elevation of 13,400 ft., the solo hiker realized they were in a dire situation. The mission response was delegated to Custer County Search and Rescue. The hiker, stranded on a narrow ledge due to treacherous mixed rock, snow, and ice conditions, was unable to either ascend or descend, adding urgency to the rescue operation. 

The successful rescue, which lasted overnight and was completed on Monday, Oct. 7, serves as an example of high-altitude dangers. 

On Aug. 22, a 66-year-old mountain climber died after falling on 14,196-foot Crestone Peak. In July 2022, 41-year-old Luis Corkern was found deceased at the bottom of Kirk Couloir after falling. 

In the recent rescue, patient care was transferred to Flight For Life Colorado, and the individual was transferred to an area hospital, where they were treated and later released. 

According to 14ers.com, the Kirk Couloir should only be attempted with stable spring-early summer snow. This snow-only climb necessitates the use of safety gear such as crampons, helmets, ice axes, and avalanche gear. Winter comes early to the high peaks; according to Mountainweather.com, the 4-6 day weather forecast as of Tuesday afternoon is "Mostly dry. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 4°C on Sat afternoon, min 0°C [32°F] on Sun afternoon)." 

A 2021 study by Jennifer Peterson with the Rocky Mountain Field Institute analyzed dangerous patterns in the Crestone Group of 14ers, comprised of Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, Kit Carson Mountain, Challenger Point, and Humboldt Peak. The study identified specific areas and conditions that pose the greatest risk to hikers and climbers, providing valuable insights for future safety measures. 

According to the study, "Of the 41 missions Custer County Search and Rescue mounted during the 2015 to 2020 timeframe, 19 or 46.3% occurred on Crestone Needle. This jagged tooth of a mountain also claimed three lives and necessitated eight air evacuations. Another nine missions or 21.9% of search and rescue operations occurred on Crestone Peak." 

The study found that as of 2020, one rescue mission on Crestone Peak was during a climber’s ascent, three were unknown (either ascent or descent), and five were during the climber's descent. 

Between 2015 and 2024, there have been at least nine fatalities of people attempting to summit peaks in the Crestone Group. 

Custer County Search and Rescue reiterates the importance of self-sufficiency in backcountry users. As winter conditions set in, routes are yet to be fully formed. It's crucial to remember that rescues can take hours to organize, aviation response is weather and often daylight dependent. Backcountry users need to be fully prepared and self-sufficient while waiting for rescue resources to arrive, empowering them to take responsibility for their safety. 

Responding agencies included Custer County Search and Rescue, Saguache County Search and Rescue, Saguache County Office of Emergency Management, Chaffee County Search and Rescue - South, Alamosa Volunteer Search And Rescue (AVSAR), Colorado Search and Rescue Association — CSAR, Cañon Helitack, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Flight For Life Colorado, Colorado Army National Guard, and the Colorado Hoist Rescue Team. 

The Garmin inReach, like the one used in this rescue, provides global two-way communication, tracking and interactive capabilities with a required satellite subscription.