Williams Peak Fatality

[Bbrobozio]

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Williams Peak Fatality
DATE OF INCIDENT: 8/24/24
DEPUTY IN CHARGE: Deputy Parichat Robles
CASE NUMBER: 24P010364
Pitkin County, Colorado – [8/24/24] –On August 24th, 2024 at approximately 2:13 PM the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received a call of an injured climber on Williams Peak near Aspen, Colorado. A deputy with the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office was able to make contact with the reporting party via phone. The reporting party advised that the 33 year old climber had fallen approximately 50-100 feet and onto a rocky area. The climber’s injuries were described as life threatening. The GPS coordinates for the climber were obtained through a Garmin InReach satellite communication device and a cellphone pin sent by the reporting party.
Williams Peak is the highest peak in the Williams Mountains located West of South Fork in the Independence Pass area outside Aspen, Colorado.
At 2:20 the all volunteer rescue team from Mountain Rescue Aspen was mobilized. A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from the Army National Guard’s High Altitude Aviation Training Site (HAATS) was requested due to the location of the climber being in class 4 terrain, which is considered technical terrain. All medical helicopters in the area were requested, but due to weather limitations some were unable to respond. A helicopter from Care Flight of the Rockies was able to respond and was in the air at approximately 3:01 hrs.
Mountain Rescue Aspen deployed members into the field at approximately 3:29 pm. MRA members were hoisted by the HAATS helicopter down to the area of the injured climber at approximately 5:10 hrs. The climber had unfortunately succumbed to their injuries. MRA deployed a total of 15 members.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the all volunteer team from Mountain Rescue Aspen, Care Flight of the Rockies, Colorado National Guard’s High Altitude Aviation Training Site, and Aspen Ambulance District for their efforts on this complex and challenging incident.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office and Mountain Rescue Aspen would like to remind all backcountry visitors that climbing has risks, especially in the mountains surrounding Aspen. They ask that you climb with caution and remain vigilant to your surroundings and your abilities. The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office and Mountain Rescue Aspen would also like to remind visitors accidents can happen to anyone so be prepared with appropriate first aid and survival gear as rescues take longer than expected.
MEDIA CONTACT
media@pitkinsheriff.com
970-400-7276

[Mountainsroam_2012]

I wonder if this was in the Williams Mountain 13er area close to Aspen? Williams peak is a 12er farther away.. Anyways my condolences to the family and RIP to the fallen climber..

[supranihilest]

I wonder if this was in the Williams Mountain 13er area close to Aspen? Williams peak is a 12er farther away.. Anyways my condolences to the family and RIP to the fallen climber..

It says Aspen in the first sentence of the press release.

[XterraRob]

https://www.climb13ers.com/colorado-13e ... s-mountain

[Kiefer]

I wonder if this was in the Williams Mountain 13er area close to Aspen? Williams peak is a 12er farther away.. Anyways my condolences to the family and RIP to the fallen climber..

It says Aspen in the first sentence of the press release.

That confused me too. I instantly thought of Williams Mountain over in the Williams Fork Range.