A 55-year-old Parker man is dead after falling Sunday afternoon while climbing the Crestone Needle in southern Colorado.
He was identified Thursday by the Saguache County coroner as Stephen Hunt.
Custer County Search and Rescue says they were summoned to the area on reports Hunt had fallen 100 feet. Authorities say they were notified of the incident by his climbing partner through a 911 call.
Hunt’s body was recovered on Tuesday morning with the help of a helicopter, according to officials.
“Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with man’s family and friends during this difficult time,” Custer County Search and Rescue said on their Facebook page.
According , Hunt was a married father of two teenagers.
“Stephen was an avid hiker and he had climbed all 54 of Colorado’s 14ers, many of them multiple times,” his death notice said. “He was working on climbing the 13er bicentennial peaks. He had organized several hiking excursions. Biking was another activity he enjoyed.”
According to , the Crestone Needle is one of Colorado’s hardest 14,000-plus foot mountains to climb.
In September, while climbing to the mountain’s 14,203-foot summit.
