PITKIN COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) – A 55-year-old man was rescued after falling about 300 feet while hiking a rarely used trail with friends 15 miles east of Basalt.
The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Around 6:30 p.m. on Friday, the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received a call from the International Emergency Response Coordination Center, stating they had received a spot activation from a Garmin InReach. The International Emergency Response Coordination Center reported there were two other parties with the 55-year-old man, and they were located on the Rocky Fork Trail approximately four miles from the trailhead.
The Rocky Fork Trail is 6.5 miles near Ruedi reservoir.
At approximately 6:56 p.m., Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) was notified. Based on the information given, MRA deployed a foot team of four MRA members.
MRA members reached the Rocky Fork Trailhead at 8:27 p.m. At 8:40 p.m., another MRA foot team of three deployed into the field. At 8:42 p.m., the first team of four MRA members began the hike to locate the injured subject.
The injured man was finally taken by ambulance to Valley View Hospital at 10:05 p.m.
The two friends of the injured hiker told first responders via text message that they were OK and going to hike out on their own, the way they came.