2017 - A bad year to hike and climb the Elk Mountains (Denver: condo, to buy)

[bluescreen73]

2 more people died on Capitol Peak over the weekend (8/20). A National Guard chopper crew found their bodies at the base of the north face today. 2 other people perished in climbing accidents while ascending Capitol on August 6th and July 15th.

Also this weekend a 68-year-old man collapsed and died doing the Crested Butte-Aspen thru-hike.

A 20-year-old woman became ill while hiking to Conundrum Hot Springs last week and died before rescuers could reach her.

A 58-year-old Denver woman fell and died on August 5th while climbing North Maroon Peak.

A 27-year-old from Fort Carson died of exposure secondary to injuries suffered in a fall on the Bell Cord Couloir on Maroon Peak in May.

A 23-year-old male miraculously survived a 2,000 foot uncontrolled glissade down the side of Pyramid Peak in early March.

Last September a climber from New Mexico disappeared somewhere in the Maroon Bells and has never been found.

That area with its extremely crappy rock is especially dangerous.

Condolences to the families and friends of those who've lost their lives this year.

I'm honestly appalled and alarmed by the increase in SAR deployments the past few years.

[otowi]

I did a little research and people have been reporting a rise in 14er deaths for over a decade now, attributed to Colorado's increasing population and increased interest in extreme/adventure sports and getting that selfie amongst average folks from all over. The mountains can definitely be dangerous, and some significantly so, and while some are unprepared and underestimate the risks, often it is just a factor of increased traffic on the peaks - at least that is what people are thinking is going on. The same articles say that deaths are apparently down from historical rates and continuing to decline, but while rates are down, traffic is up so totals can increase.

[mic111]

Don't forget to buy your Colorado Search and Rescue Card. It is cheap.

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dol...nd-rescue-fund

"The CORSAR card is available for $3 for a one-year card and $12 for five-year card."

You can buy it on-line. Just hit the Purchase Card button.

[TCHP]

Originally Posted by otowi

I did a little research and people have been reporting a rise in 14er deaths for over a decade now, attributed to Colorado's increasing population and increased interest in extreme/adventure sports and getting that selfie amongst average folks from all over. The mountains can definitely be dangerous, and some significantly so, and while some are unprepared and underestimate the risks, often it is just a factor of increased traffic on the peaks - at least that is what people are thinking is going on. The same articles say that deaths are apparently down from historical rates and continuing to decline, but while rates are down, traffic is up so totals can increase.

This doesn't surprise me at all.

When I was a kid, my Grandparents lived in Alma, so I'd spend a lot of summer days with them back in the 1970s. In that day and age, it was not uncommon to hear of 3, 4, or 5 deaths every summer from mountain activity and that was just in the central mountain area. We didn't always hear all the news from everywhere else. Whether it was outright falling off a mountain, expiring while hiking, rolling a four wheeled drive vehicle over on a trail, or someone falling down a mine shaft, people died on a regular basis while in the mountains. FWIW, Colorado has over 20,000 abandoned mines. While a lot of effort has been put forth in the more popular areas, not all of them are capped or closed off, so the risk of injury or death in a 100+ year old structure is still very real. I'm surprised we don't hear about it more often.

[hikernut]

The Maroon Bells are nicknamed the Deadly Bells for a reason. I've never been on them, and never will. Lots of loose rock, which isn't safe and certainly does not sound like much fun.

But they're on the 14'er bagger checklist.

[Wilson513]

Again, adventure trumps good judgment. We are not bulletproof as these tragic deaths prove . . . yet again.

[NW4me]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

2 more people died on Capitol Peak over the weekend (8/20). A National Guard chopper crew found their bodies at the base of the north face today. 2 other people perished in climbing accidents while ascending Capitol on August 6th and July 15th.

Also this weekend a 68-year-old man collapsed and died doing the Crested Butte-Aspen thru-hike.

A 20-year-old woman became ill while hiking to Conundrum Hot Springs last week and died before rescuers could reach her.

A 58-year-old Denver woman fell and died on August 5th while climbing North Maroon Peak.

A 27-year-old from Fort Carson died of exposure secondary to injuries suffered in a fall on the Bell Cord Couloir on Maroon Peak in May.

A 23-year-old male miraculously survived a 2,000 foot uncontrolled glissade down the side of Pyramid Peak in early March.

Last September a climber from New Mexico disappeared somewhere in the Maroon Bells and has never been found.

That area with its extremely crappy rock is especially dangerous.

Condolences to the families and friends of those who've lost their lives this year.

I'm honestly appalled and alarmed by the increase in SAR deployments the past few years.

This is horrible! Is it possible to generalize about what's going on? Is rotten rock the worst culprit? People pushing past their abilities? I suppose in some cases, the "cause" of the accident isn't known.

I hope to pay a visit to CO before the cold weather sets in, and perhaps visit one of the 14ers. But I think I'll select from the Class I / Class II peaks.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by NW4me

This is horrible! Is it possible to generalize about what's going on? Is rotten rock the worst culprit? People pushing past their abilities? I suppose in some cases, the "cause" of the accident isn't known.

I hope to pay a visit to CO before the cold weather sets in, and perhaps visit one of the 14ers. But I think I'll select from the Class I / Class II peaks.

Capitol Peak and the Maroon Bells are among the most difficult 14ers in the state. Hard to say if it's just increased traffic or something else.

[bluescreen73]

It hasn't made the news yet, but there was another fatality on Capitol Peak this weekend. That's 5 for the year.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

It hasn't made the news yet, but there was another fatality on Capitol Peak this weekend. That's 5 for the year.

It's on Aspen Daily. Sad.

I've never been up Capitol Peak, but have camped right below it. It's quite an impressive looking Summit.