A 31-year-old man hit by lightning on Longs Peak has been identified.
Hikers found Brendan Baker, of Princeton, Minn., on Wednesday on the mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park at an elevation of about 13,800 feet, according to park officials.
Baker was hiking trails on Longs Peak on Tuesday “and had spent an unplanned night in the backcountry,” according to a media release from the park. “He was conscious and able to walk slowly with assistance but was unable to recall what had caused his injuries.”
Hikers found Baker on the mountain and assisted him until a trail crew reached them at about 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The trail crew determined that Baker had been struck by lightning, sometime late in the day on Tuesday, and that he suffered numerous burn injuries.
With aid Baker was able to walk to the Agnes Vaille shelter, a primitive shelter located at “The Keyhole,” where he and others waited out an intense storm that unleashed lightning, hail, and heavy rain.
At about 6:30 p.m., when weather allowed, a helicopter flew Baker to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver.Baker is in the intensive care unit at St. Anthony in fair condition.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
