FATAL PLUNGE

Climber Dies in Fall Witnessed by Horrified Onlookers

A rescue team reached the remote location at 13,000 feet in two hours, but the climber “sustained injuries that were not survivable.”

An unidentified climber fell to his death from a steep mountain in a remote South Aspen location on Sunday. Other climbers witnessed the fall, and one quickly tried to reach the fallen climber in case there was a chance of survival. Rebecca Rees, one of the hikers who witnessed the fatal accident, posted about it on Facebook. She said that although he couldn’t be saved, at least he wasn’t alone. “Unfortunately, we witnessed the event. It has been an extremely sad and terrible afternoon for all involved. He did not survive,” she posted on Facebook. With an elevation of over 14,000 feet, Castle Peak was the scene of the tragedy. The sheriff’s office got the call at 4 p.m., and the 21-person Mountain Rescue Aspen team reached 13,000 feet to recover the deceased climber by 8 p.m, despite the remote location. “The response of search and rescue, the sheriff, and the coroner all made us feel like every single person matters. This young man had a story, and we all care,” she concluded.