A 23-year-old climber who was struck on the head by a boulder on Pyramid Peak in Pitkin County and tumbled about 60 feet was evacuated by helicopter to Aspen Valley Hospital, authorities said Saturday.
Andy McClure of Center was in stable condition after sustaining head and leg injuries on the fourteener. He was injured at about 13,000 feet in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, 11 miles south of Aspen, after he dislodged a boulder and slid, officials said.
The boulder struck him on the head as he was tumbling down the mountain, said George Kremer, a spokesman for the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.
Members of Mountain Rescue Aspen were flown by helicopter to a landing spot near McClure’s location. They evacuated him about 5 p.m., Kremer said.
The accident happened about 10 a.m. on a part of the 14,018-foot mountain that is covered with ice, snow and sliding rock, Kremer said.
“It’s a very dangerous peak,” he said. “It’s extremely slippery and icy.”
McClure was climbing with Ian Noel of Colorado Springs when he was injured.
Noel helped McClure descend about 30 feet to a stable ledge, but because of McClure’s leg injury, he could not walk, Kremer said.
Noel then climbed down the mountain and drove to Aspen, where he contacted authorities about noon.
Rescue workers reached McClure by 2 p.m.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
