A Jefferson County man who fell 60 to 80 feet off a cliff near the Maroon Bells while hunting died Sunday after being flown to an Aspen hospital, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.
Hikers discovered the unresponsive 42-year-old hunter on North Maroon Peak — roughly 11 miles south of Aspen — about 6 a.m. after they heard him moaning in agony. The hunter, who has not been identified, fell with a goat he’d shot, landing near a popular hiking trail, the office said.
One of the hikers ran down the trail until he had cellphone service and called emergency responders.
“It was obviously very serious injuries,” Deputy George Kremer told The Denver Post.
Mountain Rescue Aspen, Flight for Life and the High Altitude Aviation Training site in Gypsum were called to assist the injured man. Rescuers reached the hunter about 8 a.m. and he was then flown by helicopter to Aspen Valley Hospital where he died about three hours later.
The hunter was found at an altitude of about 11,200 feet. Kremer said a GoPro camera the man was wearing helped emergency responders determine aspects of his hunting trip and the fall.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or
