A California man and his teenage son had to spend a cold, uncomfortable night on the rocky west ridge of Quandary Peak near Breckenridge, Colorado, after getting stuck during a hiking trip.
They were unprepared for the challenging route they chose, leading to a risky rescue operation that lasted 15 hours.
The Situation on Quandary Peak
The father, in his mid-50s, and his son began their hike to the summit of Quandary Peak at around 10 a.m. Thursday. While Quandary is one of the easier 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado, the duo decided to take a more challenging route up the west ridge, which is steeper and more difficult than the standard east ridge route.
This decision left them stuck on a narrow ridge, unable to move forward or back safely as the weather worsened.
As temperatures dropped below freezing Thursday night, the pair huddled with two rescuers just below the summit of Quandary Peak. They had limited supplies, wearing only cotton pants and shirts, which are not suitable for cold mountain conditions.
Fortunately, the father’s phone kept working, allowing rescuers to stay in contact with him. However, the son began showing early signs of hypothermia.
The Challenging Rescue
By late Thursday afternoon, the father and son called 9-1-1. Summit County Rescue Group responded but could not proceed immediately due to the steep terrain and high winds, which made a helicopter operation too dangerous at night.
A Flight For Life helicopter later dropped four rescuers onto the east ridge of the peak, and two of them made their way across the summit to reach the stranded hikers.
Despite the difficult conditions, they were finally able to reach the father and son, but due to safety concerns, the helicopter crew decided not to fly in the dark with high winds.
Around 7 a.m. on Friday, a Blackhawk helicopter from the National Guard arrived in calm conditions and successfully airlifted the father and son to safety. The entire rescue operation took 15 hours, but it ended successfully, with the man and his son expressing their gratitude for the rescuers’ efforts.
A Lesson in Preparedness
Charles Pitman, a mission coordinator with Summit County Rescue Group, emphasized the importance of thorough preparation when hiking in Colorado’s high country.
He explained that hikers often underestimate the difficulty of more challenging routes like the west ridge of Quandary Peak, which is not suitable for inexperienced climbers. Many hikers, not climbers, get into trouble on this route because they fail to research the difficulty of their chosen path.
Pitman noted that while this mission ended well, others have not been as fortunate. In past years, hikers have died while attempting similar routes. He encouraged hikers to do proper research, as several online resources are available to help them choose safer routes to Colorado’s peaks.
While Pitman was up all night coordinating the rescue, he was relieved that the father and son were safe. He said, “You look back and these people are OK. That’s not always the case.”
This rescue highlights the importance of careful planning when hiking in high-altitude areas like Colorado. As summer continues, rescue operations increase, and hikers are urged to prepare adequately and understand the risks of their chosen routes.
Fortunately, in this case, the father and son were rescued safely, and their experience serves as a reminder to always plan ahead.