Max R. Smith Chaffee Couty Times reporter, Nov 15, 2023 A hiker who set out towards the summit of a thirteener earlier this month with just a cotton hoodie to protect against winter weather was safely extracted by Chaffee County Search and Rescue after being caught in a snowstorm. About 25 rescuers from CCSAR North and South were deployed to the thirteener on the evening of Nov. 8, with more than five assisting with incident command from the CCSAR-N bay. The hiker had no food or water or way to warm themselves aside from the hoodie, a CCSAR-N Facebook post said. “With darkness app ..read more

Spencer McKee, Denver Gazette; Oct. 10, 2023 Among the highest reaches of Colorado, loose rock tends to be ample, making it crucial to proceed with extreme caution when above treeline. A search and rescue response that took place near the end of September highlighted this risk, when a hiker on the 14,077-foot Mount Columbia was struck by a falling boulder, sustaining an injury and requiring emergency rescue via a helicopter. At about 9:30 a.m. on September 25, Chaffee County Search and Rescue North got a request for help on the heavily-trafficked Collegiate Range peak. With the group able to p ..read more

Hiker calls 911 due to shakes and vomiting after getting stuck on 14er overnight Spencer McKee, The Denver Gazette; Oct. 9, 2023 A high-elevation mountain rescue that took place last month in Colorado brought with it an important lesson that’s even more so crucial to pay attention to as the transition into colder fall weather continues. On September 13, a 73-year-old male set out to summit the 14,075-foot Mount Columbia near Buena Vista. He was successful in reaching the top of the peak, but quickly ran into trouble on his descent. As rain, snow, and fog rolled in, the man found it dif ..read more

Buena Vista’s Mal Sillars, meteorologist and NWS observer, gave a presentation on backcountry weather considerations and reading weather signs March 16. Hannah Harn Chaffee County Times reporter Mar 23, 2023 The CCSAR-N building was full to the brim with interested attendees. The presentation, hosted by Chaffee County Search and Rescue North and the Buena Vista Public Library, was geared toward backcountry explorers of all levels. Sillars first put the presentation together for the Upper Arkansas Wilderness Volunteers and later began sharing it with SAR as part of their training. “This i ..read more

Spencer McKee Special to Chaffee County Times Mar 22, 2023 While snowmobiles and off-road vehicles are often designed to handle extreme winter conditions, don’t assume that problems will never arise. According to Chaffee County Search and Rescue-North, about 60 percent of missions thus far in 2023 have been related to snowmobilers entering the backcountry and getting stuck in deep snow. Meanwhile, a similar issue of overconfident four-wheel-drive operators was highlighted in a recent incident in which a man used a drone to call for help. Chaffee County Search and Rescue-North recentl ..read more

MT Yale Mission On Friday, November 18th, Chaffee County Search and Rescue – North conducted an operation to rescue a severely injured hiker off of Mt. Yale. At approximately 1600 Chaffee County Dispatch received a SOS activation from a Garmin InReach. A two person party were attempting Mt. Yale via the East Ridge. While descending, one of the parties fell, tumbled about 500’ and came to a stop in the rocks. The subject was face down and not moving. Injuries included broken bones, a head injury, and eventually hypothermia & frostbite. Luckily one of the parties had a Garmin InReach and ma ..read more

     While experience is the best way to learn, CCSAR-N would rather you NOT get your experience during a backcountry rescue. But if you get in trouble we will be there for you, at no cost to you. Our team of volunteers wake up in the middle of the night, miss family events and many dinners to assist people in distress in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains located in central Colorado. While CCSAR-N can receive funds from The Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) Card program for expense reimbursements CCSAR-N is funded 100% through donations and grants ..read more

Michael A. Rodriguez, Chaffee County Times reporter Aug 24, 2022 Chaffee County Search and Rescue–North saved two climbers trapped above treeline as storms rolled through Sunday afternoon, Aug. 14. The climbers went off route and decided to climb out on the Ellingwood Ridge route of La Plata Peak. They contacted search and rescue after being unable to ascend or descend from their position 200 feet below the ridge. The climbers reported they were unharmed, only unable to move. They also reported that inclement weather had passed them previously and that more appeared to be headed th ..read more

Michael A Rodriguez, Chaffee County Times reporter, 7/28/22 Chaffee County Search and Rescue–North responded to the aid of a hiker at 13,340 feet on the side of Mount Yale Thursday evening. The hiker was reported to be suffering from altitude sickness and was not feeling well July 21, Search and Rescue-North reported on its Facebook page. The hiker was prepared for the hike with water, food, and a flashlight and had reported that they had been drinking lots of water. CCSAR-N instructed the hiker to continue moving down the the mountain and suggested that they try to eat some food to replen ..read more

Michael A Rodriguez, Chaffee County Times Jun 1, 2022 Chaffee County Search and Rescue-North responded to two calls for aid Memorial Day weekend. One call came at 3:45 p.m., Saturday, May 28 from a hiker who was separated from his hiking partner and was suffering from altitude sickness while hiking Mt. Princeton, according to a post on CCSAR-N’s Facebook page. Four members each from Chaffee County Search and Rescue-North and -South took to the field and met the man at 13,500 feet. There they assessed his condition, administered oxygen and helped him hike down the mountain. The group arrived ..read more