A climber was found dead in the Maroon Bells area in western Colorado on Thursday.
The climber was reported missing Wednesday, according to a Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office release. Officials initially didn’t know where the person intended to climb, but later found notes related to climbing the Maroon Bells in their rental vehicle, and Mountain Rescue Aspen began searching the area.
CareFlight of the Rockies was used to search the Maroon Bells area by air Thursday morning, and a person was spotted dead in “very technical” and difficult-to-access terrain, the release states.
Crews plan to recover the climber’s body on Tuesday. Maroon Peak, including the route from West Maroon Creek and the traverse from North Maroon Peak, is so emergency responders can work.
Officials have notified the missing climber’s family and will confirm the climber’s identity once the recovery is complete.
Pitkin County officials reminded those traveling in the backcountry to bring appropriate equipment, be ready for rapidly changing mountain conditions, carry a satellite communication device, and leave an itinerary, including their intended route and expected return time, with a trusted person before leaving.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
