Aspen – A Texas biology professor lost his balance at 12,800 feet while descending South Maroon Peak in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area and died after falling more than 300 feet.
Pitkin County sheriff’s officials identified the man Sunday as 66-year-old Sterling Smith of Denton, Texas. He taught at Texas Woman’s University.
Smith had been leading his climbing partner and two men they had met earlier that day down from the summit Saturday when he fell, said sheriff’s Deputy Mike Ferrara.
Brian Ogg of Westminster told The Aspen Times that he and his father, James, were the two men with Smith and his climbing partner and saw what happened.
“He turned around to look back up at us, and we could see him lose his balance,” Brian Ogg said. “We saw him fall the first 10 or 20 feet, then he disappeared.”
It took Ogg 15 minutes to descend the 50-degree slope on his backside to reach Smith. He found that Smith’s injuries were fatal.
Rescuers retrieved Smith’s body Sunday morning.
