Mountain Rescue Aspen

03/18/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – March 18, 2026 – Early this morning, at 12:30 AM, the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received an SOS from an Apple device reporting one stranded climber on Capitol Peak’s Northwest Buttress Route, which was the subject’s intended route.

Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) was in contact with the subject throughout the night and advised the subject to stay put until sunrise. The original report was that the climber had cold injuries to their hands and feet and was unable to move. The subject contacted MRA later during the overnight period and provided an update that they felt they could start moving under their own power. As the night continued, the information provided was that the injured climber could not walk out and required further assistance.

At 5:15 AM, Careflight of the Rockies launched from Montrose and flew over to assess the situation. Concurrently, MRA worked with Colorado Search & Rescue (CSAR) to put the Colorado National Guard and HAATS on standby in case a hoist was required. After some time, the subject was able to slowly make it down from the NW Buttress on Capitol, to Capitol Pass under their own power. Careflight was able to land on Capitol Pass, pick up the subject, and transport them to Aspen Valley Health (AVH) by 6:45 AM.

Mountain Rescue Aspen would like to thank Careflight of the Rockies, Colorado Search and Rescue, and HAATS for their assistance in this rescue.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the dedicated, all-volunteer team at Mountain Rescue Aspen. Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office remind backcountry users to always have a backcountry partner, carry a personal satellite device, know the route and your abilities, pre-plan your trips while avoiding late starts, and set turn-around times. It is important to always have the right clothing and gear for the projected weather conditions, and be prepared to spend an unplanned night in the mountains if the situation warrants it.

03/15/2026

Congrats to our Mountain Rescue Aspen teammates that won the Team Category at America’s Uphill! 🏆💪

2nd photo:

03/09/2026

Join us at Arc’teryx Aspen for a free community skills night with members of Mountain Rescue Aspen on March 18th at 7:00pm.

Kick off the evening with a short introduction to how Mountain Rescue operates, then rotate through four hands-on learning stations:

Rope & Anchors
How to Request MRA
Basic Medical
Avalanche / Snow Safety

This relaxed, interactive event is a great way to build backcountry knowledge, ask questions, and connect with your local rescue team. Perfect for beginners and seasoned adventurers alike.

March 18
7:00–8:30 PM
Arc’teryx Aspen

RSVP here to confirm your spot:
https://community-events.arcteryx.com/skillssessionwmountainrescue

01/30/2026

Join Us for the 39th Annual Community Avalanche Workshop

📅 Date: February 7, 2026

💲 Cost: FREE — Thanks to your generous support!
🎟 How to Secure Your Spot:
The workshop is limited to the first 100 attendees, and participation is first-come, first-served. To claim your spot:
Arrive at Gondola Plaza by 8:30 AM on February 7, 2025.
Bring the following essential gear:
A modern three-antennae avalanche transceiver
Shovel and probe
Equipment for traveling over soft snow (e.g., AT bindings, splitboard, snowshoes)
Clothing and food suitable for a full day outdoors in the backcountry

⛷ Getting Started:
After securing your ticket at Gondola Plaza, you’ll take the Gondola up to the Sundeck. During the ride, you’ll have time to review your ticket and workshop instructions. Once at the top, a Mountain Rescue Aspen team member will greet you, assign you to a group, and guide you as the workshop begins.

🕒 Workshop Duration:
This is a full-day event, running from 8:30 AM at Gondola Plaza to 3:30 PM at the top of Aspen Mountain.

Participants should be prepared to spend the entire day outdoors in the backcountry. To make the most of the workshop, full-day attendance is required. If you’re unable to stay for the entire event, please allow someone else the opportunity to participate fully.

🔔 Event Updates:
There is no formal registration, but if you would like to receive further updates about the event please fill out the form on the event page.

01/28/2026

https://www.aspentimes.com/news/aspen-area-sees-three-backcountry-rescues-in-four-days/

The Aspen area has seen three mountain rescues in four days.

01/27/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – January 26, 2026 – Five additional backcountry skiers were treated and two were rescued and evacuated by helicopter to Aspen Valley Health, all experienced frostbite while attempting to travel to The Goodwin Greene Hut. The temperatures were below freezing and poor snow conditions made the rescue challenging.

The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center (Dispatch) received a medical SOS at approximately 11:53 am Monday morning from the Goodwin Greene Hut. The remaining five members of a seven-person party were reported as all having cold related injuries of varying degrees including one person suffering from loss of eye sight. The call was forwarded to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, who in turn notified Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA), as a backcountry rescue would be necessary. This was a follow up mission to the rescue of two other subjects performed the night prior.

MRA contacted Flight for Life out of Frisco who was unable to accept the mission due to winds north of the scene. CareFlight of the Rockies (Careflight) was able to accept the mission with their Montrose based helicopter coming from the southwest while MRA assembled and mobilized teams of ground rescuers via snowmobiles. Additionally, the on-call state coordinators with Colorado Search and Rescue (CSAR) assisted in coordination of HAATS in case a larger aircraft was needed for the extraction of multiple patients. CareFlight was able to land approximately 500 feet from the hut where the five patients were assessed.

Two additional seriously injured patients with cold injuries, were flown from the scene to Aspen Valley Health for additional care. The field MRA team also arrived on scene and provided some medical care to the remaining three hut users who were left behind per their own request with only minor cold injuries. CareFlight was able to return to the scene and retrieve their second crew member and equipment belonging to the four personnel all medevac’d from the scene over the last 12 hours.

The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the all-volunteer team at Mountain Rescue Aspen, CareFlight of the Rockies, Flight for Life Colorado, Colorado Search & Rescue (CSAR) for their continued service to the community.
Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office would like to remind backcountry hut users to follow suggestions from the 10th Mountain Hut website when planning their backcountry trip.

When embarking on a hut trip, your group must be prepared and equipped for a bivouac, self-rescue, evacuation, or handling of other challenges and misfortunes that may be encountered in the backcountry. If a member of your group is injured or becomes ill at a hut or along the trail, or doesn’t make it to the hut, you cannot rely on immediate outside help.
About half of all search and rescue incidents within the hut system are searches for overdue skiers or snowshoers who get lost or underestimate travel time and don’t arrive at the hut as planned. Avoid mistakes that can lead to emergencies and a need for rescue.

Common pre-trip mistakes include:
- Not researching the route, weather or avalanche conditions.
- Not downloading .GPX files on your phone or GPS device in advance, so they can be accessed without service; not fully charging those devices; or not knowing how to use this information.
- Overestimating your group’s abilities.
Not knowing what to do in case of accident or illness.
- Choosing an unreliable group communication plan, such as weak 2-way radios.
Relying on a snowmobile to haul critical gear and food.
- Choosing to go on a hut trip with a known injury or illness.
- Not having a text-enabled satellite communication device, such as an InReach or newer cell phone, that can send and receive SOS messages via satellite in an emergency — or not knowing how to use it to communicate.

Common mistakes during the trip include:
- Getting a late start.
- Poor packing/equipment choices, such as overpacking of non-essential items that will weigh down one’s pack, and/or not bringing essential emergency gear.
- Underestimating travel time with packs and snow conditions, and the many factors of traveling as a group that can lead to slower rate of travel.
- Intentional separation among the group.
Dead batteries in navigation and communication devices.
- Not establishing or following through on clear communication plans among your group.

01/27/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – January 26, 2026 – Two backcountry skiers were evacuated by helicopter to Aspen Valley Health, one in critical condition while attempting to travel to The Goodwin Greene Hut. Temperatures were -22F and wind conditions made the rescue challenging.

The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center (Dispatch) received a medical SOS at approximately 9:40 pm Sunday evening from the Goodwin Greene Hut. Two members of a seven-person party were reported as unable to make it to the hut with extreme cold injuries. The call was forwarded to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, who in turn notified Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA), as a backcountry rescue would be necessary.

MRA immediately contacted CareFlight of the Rockies out of Rifle, Colorado (Careflight) while assembling and mobilizing teams of snowmobiles. After multiple attempts due to weather a CareFlight Paramedic and Mountain Rescue Paramedic were inserted in snowy conditions on the ridge. They were able to find the two hypothermic subjects, one non-responsive and in critical condition, and the second, who was also hypothermic. Initial care was provided and both patients were loaded into the helicopter and transferred to Aspen Valley Health. CareFlight immediately went back to the location to pick up the MRA member who was left behind due to space limitations in the aircraft.

All team members were out of the field at 3:45am Monday morning.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the dedicated, all-volunteer team at Mountain Rescue Aspen, along with CareFlight for their continued service to the community. Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind backcountry hut users to pre-plan their trips and avoid late starts. Do not underestimate the changing mountain conditions, have adequate clothing for the projected weather conditions, and be open to rescheduling or turning around to avoid getting caught in unfavorable weather.

01/24/2026

Pitkin County, Colorado – January 23, 2026 – A deceased backcountry skier was recovered after a reported medical event on Larkspur Rd. approximately three miles northeast of Lenado. Three people had been touring through snowy terrain up to Margy’s Hut when one of the subjects reportedly lost their motor skills and could not continue. Margy’s Hut is part of the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association and is located approximately six miles northeast of Lenado.

The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center (Dispatch) received the medical call at approximately 6:40 p.m. The call was forwarded to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, who in turn notified Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA), as a backcountry rescue would be necessary.

While MRA volunteers were mobilizing, Dispatch was notified that the patient had lost consciousness, the patient was experiencing agonal breathing, and CPR was in progress. By the time the first MRA field team arrived on scene at approximately 8:45 p.m., via snowmobiles, the subject was deceased.

MRA field members transported the deceased skier and the remaining parties back to the trailhead. MRA transferred custody of the deceased skier to the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office.

11/09/2025

Ropes, ridgelines, and a lot of teamwork. Our all volunteer team puts in hundreds of hours of training every year to be ready for the moment a call for rescue comes in.

11/05/2025

At approximately 11:00 am on Wednesday morning,
rescuers located the missing female who had been reported the previous day in the Watson Divide area, approximately 7 miles West of Aspen, CO. She was treated on scene, then transported to Aspen Valley Hospital for further care.

Approximately 26 hours earlier, Pitkin County Deputies were notified of a missing person at a residence in the Watson Divide area. It was reported that the subject had left her cell phone, car, and other identifying belongings at a residence in the area, then left on foot. Deputies scoured the area, but as the day progressed, it became apparent that more resources would be needed.
Volunteers from Mountain Rescue Aspen responded to the location, and Drone and Foot Teams were deployed. That search continued until nightfall, but it was decided to resume it the following day.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, Mountain Rescue Teams began their search again, this time joined by numerous partners from across the state. Rescuers from Colorado Search and Rescue (CSAR), West Elk Search and Rescue, Gunnison, Vail Mountain, Eagle County, Summit County, Lake County, and Garfield County Search and Rescue, as well
as Front Range Rescue Dogs, participated. They were joined by local partners, including Roaring Fork Fire Rescue and the Aspen Ambulance District. In all, over 36 Volunteer Mountain Rescue personnel responded, along with three separate dog teams, as well as members of the public.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the safe rescue of this individual and express sincere gratitude to our public safety partners who contributed to the positive outcome.

10/29/2025

Castle Peak conditions check ✅

10/27/2025

Making the most of the last days before winter snows start, to train with a guiding line in the terrain on Independence Pass.