Helicopter Rescue off Little Bear Peak After Climber Struck by Rockfall
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A climber was injured Sunday morning after being struck by a large rock and falling 30 feet on Little Bear Peak, one of Colorado's most treacherous fourteeners. A dramatic helicopter rescue ensued to evacuate the climber from just below the infamous Hourglass Couloir.
The incident occurred as the climber was ascending the peak. The rockfall, a common hazard on the loose and notoriously dangerous terrain of Little Bear, inflicted serious injuries. The subsequent fall compounded the perilous situation, necessitating a swift and technical rescue operation.
The Immediate Response
A couple who had just met the climber moments before, Jake and Gianna Spitaliere, witnessed the event. Jake, an emergency room nurse, immediately called 911 and used a Garmin InReach satellite device to send their coordinates. They were the only ones with the unconscious climber for over 90 minutes, working to stabilize him on the exposed and unstable terrain directly in the line of potential rockfall. By 7 a.m., six other climbers had arrived to offer assistance with bivy sacks, but the group was unable to move the injured man from the danger zone.
The Coordinated Rescue
A multi-agency response was launched by Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue (AVSAR), involving the Colorado Army National Guard and REACH Air Medical Services.
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This event serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks of mountaineering, particularly on peaks with a reputation for loose rock and hazardous conditions like Little Bear Peak.
