Crews on Sunday continue to search for a missing mountain climber reported overdue during a solo climbing trip in the Maroon Bells Wilderness outside of Aspen area last week, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.
David Cook of Albuquerque is a former Marine who authorities say has a wealth of experience in the backcountry. A woman called rescuers on Tuesday night when she had not heard from him.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office says Cook planned to summit Pyramid Peak on Monday and Maroon and North Maroon peaks Tuesday.
Mountain Rescue Aspen was alerted to the situation about 10 p.m. Tuesday. Officials determined it was plausible Cook got a late start after his car was found at the Maroon Bells entrance station with a ticket indicating he had arrived later than he had planned to be in the area.
That discovery meant that a search wasn’t initiated until Thursday morning, when two helicopters launched to find him.
Searches also were conducted Friday and Saturday, but efforts to find him have been hampered by high winds, blowing snow and low visibility.
A Pitkin County emergency dispatcher said the search resumed Sunday.
