Latest news with #TorreysPeak
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Colorado rescuers forced to use Black Hawk helicopter after two hikers were struck by LIGHTNING
Rescuers in Colorado had to use a Black Hawk helicopter to save two hikers who were struck by lightning near the summit of a huge mountain. The dramatic rescue happened Thursday near the top of Torreys Peak - a 14,300ft mountain about 40 miles outside of Denver. The hikers, two unidentified men from New York state, called for help around 5pm after they got off course while attempting to climb the 11th-highest summit in the state. 'It doesn't sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,' Jake Smith, one of the rescuers, said. Mission leaders then directed the men on how to get back on the correct trail, but while on the phone, things quickly took a turn for the worse. After an hour of talking to the hikers, the team were preparing to 'stand down' when all of sudden the pair was struck by lightning, leaving one of the men unresponsive, Alpine Rescue Team said. Moments later, one of the hikers told the team what happened, prompting about 30 rescuers to make their way up the steep mountain while another group brought in a Colorado National Guard Black Hawk helicopter for assistance. 'He was on the phone with them and said they've been struck by lightning, and then at that time it was kind of "Go, go, go get things ready, get out the door!,' Smith told CBS News. 'After a few more seconds, somebody came back on the line had said, "We've been hit by lightning. My partner's down. He's not responsive. He's foaming at the mouth. Do I start CPR? What do I do?"' The military chopper was specifically brought in to transport the unresponsive man in critical condition by using a hoist at 14,200ft to get him off the mountain. The injured man was then flown down to an ambulance and taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a burn unit, according to Smith. The helicopter then made another trip around midnight to rescue the less seriously hurt man. Dramatic footage showed rescuers securing one of the hikers as the helicopter made its way to the top of the mountain. Other images showed the team hiking up the mountain with gear and flashlights. The hikers' current conditions remain unclear. Daily Mail contacted Alpine Rescue Team for more information. Both rescues took place around 14,200ft - the new state records for a helicopter rescue, officials believe. The previous rescue reached 13,700ft. These rescues are specifically challenging because the thin air causes choppers to lose lifting ability the higher they fly. Black Hawk helicopters have an altitude of approximately 19,000ft, the Associated Press reported. Both hikers and climbers typically prefer to ascend in the morning to avoid the Rocky Mountain high country during summer afternoons. Thunderstorms are common in the area and are known to develop suddenly with not just lightning, but low temperatures and hail.
The Independent
14-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Dramatic helicopter rescue saves two hikers hit by lightning near peak of Colorado mountain
Two hikers hit by lightning were rescued from a Colorado peak in dramatic and record-setting fashion. One man remained hospitalized in fair condition Friday while the other was treated at a hospital and released. The rescues happened late Thursday near the summit of Torreys Peak, a 14,300-foot mountain about 40 miles west of Denver. Torreys Peak is ranked variously as the 11th or 12th highest summit in Colorado and is less than 200 feet shorter than the state's highest mountain, Mount Elbert. The men from New York state, whose identities weren't released, had decided to summit the mountain during a road trip, Alpine Rescue Team public information officer Jake Smith said. They first called for help around 5 p.m. after getting off course on their way up a technical route. A different route doesn't require climbing gear or expertise. 'It doesn't sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,' said Smith, who was among the rescuers on the ground. Rescue officials guided the men back on course, and they made it to the summit. Minutes later, one of them called back to report they had been struck by lightning. About 30 rescuers went up the mountain while another team used a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to get the more seriously injured man, who was non-responsive and in critical condition, off the peak using a hoist at 14,200 feet. It is believed to be the highest helicopter rescue in the state's history. He was flown down to an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, then to a Denver hospital with a burn unit, Smith said. The helicopter made another trip around midnight to fetch the less seriously hurt man by partially touching down on the mountain. The rescuers believe Colorado's previous record for a helicopter rescue was 13,700 feet. Such rescues are challenging because thin air causes helicopters to lose lifting ability the higher they fly; the Blackhawk has an altitude limit of about 19,000 feet. Hikers and climbers often prefer to ascend during the morning and avoid the Rocky Mountain high country on summer afternoons. Thunderstorms are common and can develop suddenly with dangerous lightning, hail and plummeting temperatures.
CTV News
14-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in record-high Colorado helicopter rescues
In this image provided by the Alpine Rescue Team, lamps are illuminated on a ridge as Alpine Rescue Team members take part in helping get two men struck by lightning off Torreys Peak in Colorado, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Jake Smith/Alpine Rescue Team via AP) Rescuers fetched two men struck by lightning from a Colorado peak in what they believe were the highest helicopter rescues on record in this mountainous state. One man remained hospitalized in fair condition Friday while the other was treated at a hospital and released. The rescues happened late Thursday near the summit of Torreys Peak, a 14,300-foot (4,360-metre) mountain about 40 miles (64 kilometres) west of Denver. Torreys Peak is ranked variously as the 11th or 12th highest summit in Colorado and is less than 200 feet (60 metres) shorter than the state's highest mountain, Mount Elbert. The men from New York state, whose identities weren't released, had decided to summit the mountain during a road trip, Alpine Rescue Team public information officer Jake Smith said. They first called for help around 5 p.m. after getting off course on their way up a technical route. A different route doesn't require climbing gear or expertise. 'It doesn't sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,' said Smith, who was among the rescuers on the ground. Rescue officials guided the men back on course, and they made it to the summit. Minutes later, one of them called back to report they had been struck by lightning. About 30 rescuers went up the mountain while another team used a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to get the more seriously injured man, who was nonresponsive and in critical condition, off the peak using a hoist at 14,200 feet (4,330 metres). He was flown down to an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, then to a Denver hospital with a burn unit, Smith said. The helicopter made another trip around midnight to fetch the less seriously hurt man by partially touching down on the mountain. The rescuers believe Colorado's previous record for a helicopter rescue was 13,700 feet (4,175 metres). Such rescues are challenging because thin air causes helicopters to lose lifting ability the higher they fly; the Blackhawk has an altitude limit of about 19,000 feet (5,800 metres). Hikers and climbers often prefer to ascend during the morning and avoid the Rocky Mountain high country on summer afternoons. Thunderstorms are common and can develop suddenly with dangerous lightning, hail and plummeting temperatures. Article by Mead Gruver.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in a record-high Colorado helicopter rescues
Rescuers fetched two men struck by lightning from a Colorado peak in what they believe were the highest helicopter rescues on record in this mountainous state. One man remained hospitalized in fair condition Friday while the other was treated at a hospital and released. The rescues happened late Thursday near the summit of Torreys Peak, a 14,300-foot (4,360-meter) mountain about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Denver. Torreys Peak is ranked variously as the 11th or 12th highest summit in Colorado and is less than 200 feet (60 meters) shorter than the state's highest mountain, Mount Elbert. The men from New York state, whose identities weren't released, had decided to summit the mountain during a road trip, Alpine Rescue Team public information officer Jake Smith said. They first called for help around 5 p.m. after getting off course on their way up a technical route. A different route doesn't require climbing gear or expertise. 'It doesn't sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,' said Smith, who was among the rescuers on the ground. Rescue officials guided the men back on course, and they made it to the summit. Minutes later, one of them called back to report they had been struck by lightning. About 30 rescuers went up the mountain while another team used a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to get the more seriously injured man, who was nonresponsive and in critical condition, off the peak using a hoist at 14,200 feet (4,330 meters). He was flown down to an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, then to a Denver hospital with a burn unit, Smith said. The helicopter made another trip around midnight to fetch the less seriously hurt man by partially touching down on the mountain. The rescuers believe Colorado's previous record for a helicopter rescue was 13,700 feet (4,175 meters). Such rescues are challenging because thin air causes helicopters to lose lifting ability the higher they fly; the Blackhawk has an altitude limit of about 19,000 feet (5,800 meters). Hikers and climbers often prefer to ascend during the morning and avoid the Rocky Mountain high country on summer afternoons. Thunderstorms are common and can develop suddenly with dangerous lightning, hail and plummeting temperatures.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in a record-high Colorado helicopter rescues
Rescuers fetched two men struck by lightning from a Colorado peak in what they believe were the highest helicopter rescues on record in this mountainous state. One man remained hospitalized in fair condition Friday while the other was treated at a hospital and released. The rescues happened late Thursday near the summit of Torreys Peak, a 14,300-foot (4,360-meter) mountain about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Denver. Torreys Peak is ranked variously as the 11th or 12th highest summit in Colorado and is less than 200 feet (60 meters) shorter than the state's highest mountain, Mount Elbert. The men from New York state, whose identities weren't released, had decided to summit the mountain during a road trip, Alpine Rescue Team public information officer Jake Smith said. They first called for help around 5 p.m. after getting off course on their way up a technical route. A different route doesn't require climbing gear or expertise. 'It doesn't sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,' said Smith, who was among the rescuers on the ground. Rescue officials guided the men back on course, and they made it to the summit. Minutes later, one of them called back to report they had been struck by lightning. About 30 rescuers went up the mountain while another team used a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to get the more seriously injured man, who was nonresponsive and in critical condition, off the peak using a hoist at 14,200 feet (4,330 meters). He was flown down to an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, then to a Denver hospital with a burn unit, Smith said. The helicopter made another trip around midnight to fetch the less seriously hurt man by partially touching down on the mountain. The rescuers believe Colorado's previous record for a helicopter rescue was 13,700 feet (4,175 meters). Such rescues are challenging because thin air causes helicopters to lose lifting ability the higher they fly; the Blackhawk has an altitude limit of about 19,000 feet (5,800 meters). Hikers and climbers often prefer to ascend during the morning and avoid the Rocky Mountain high country on summer afternoons. Thunderstorms are common and can develop suddenly with dangerous lightning, hail and plummeting temperatures.
