Colorado Hiker Rescued After Shoes Were ‘Frozen Solid’

A Colorado hiker was rescued from a dangerous situation on a mountain west of Denver this weekend. The state’s Alpine Rescue team was notified Friday evening of a lost man on Mt. Bierstadt, the group reported. After setting out on Friday morning to climb the 14,065-foot peak, situated about 60 miles west of Denver in the Colorado Front Range, the man left his father with instructions to call 911 if he didn’t hear back by 8 p.m.

Members of the state’s alpine search-and-rescue (SAR) team searched the mountain for several hours. Around midnight, the team saw a flashing light a mile away and finally located the hiker around 1 a.m. above a small cliff. He was unable to move because his “shoes had frozen solid,” the team later wrote in a social media post.

So they warmed up his feet, then belayed him to the ground below the cliff. By 3 a.m., Alpine Rescue, Colorado’s dedicated mountain SAR team, was able to help the lost mountaineer off the mountain through a mix of hiking and skiing.

Winter Hiking Safety

While it’s unclear exactly how the hiker ended up in need of help, he made two decisions that helped ensure a swift and successful rescue, according to Alpine Rescue. First, he advised someone about his schedule and cutoff time before leaving for the mountain. This allowed first responders to start searching for him as soon as it was clear he needed help.

“Without knowing to call 911, our subjects father may not have notified the team in time,” Alpine Rescue wrote.

Secondly, the lost hiker had a light source he could use to attract search teams. It’s “unlikely” he could have signaled the team without that light, the rescuers added. Finally, Alpine Rescue advised hikers to always pack extra layers in case of wet conditions.

“Remember that winter recreation in Colorado has heightened consequences,” Alpine Rescue said. “Be prepared for vastly different conditions and know what to bring and how to use it.”

However, Colorado isn’t the only state where unprepared hikers can find themselves in trouble. A similar incident occurred in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains in 2021 when three hikers in sneakers found themselves stuck in snowy conditions.