Two Hikers Struck by Lightning on Torreys Peak in Colorado
Last week, two hikers from New York were struck by lightning on Torreys Peak in Colorado, leading to one of the highest helicopter rescues ever recorded in the state. The hikers had wandered off route on Kelso Ridge while ascending the 14,300-foot mountain, prompting a call for help to the Evergreen-based Alpine Rescue Team.
Rescuers guided the hikers back to the summit over the phone, but shortly after, they received another call reporting the lightning strike. Five rescue teams immediately headed up the mountain, with a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter mobilized for the operation.
One of the hikers, in critical condition, was airlifted off the peak using a hoist at 11 p.m. The man was then transferred to a Denver-area hospital with a burn unit. The helicopter made a second trip around midnight to retrieve the second hiker with less serious injuries.
The altitude of the rescues, at approximately 14,200 feet, posed a significant challenge. The previous record for a helicopter rescue in Colorado was 13,700 feet, highlighting the difficulty of such operations at high elevations.
According to Alpine Rescue Team officials, the hikers may have lacked experience in tackling the highly challenging Kelso Ridge route on Torreys Peak. The route is recommended only for experienced adventurers and is a popular way to summit both Grays Peak and Torreys Peak, two of Colorado’s fourteeners.
As of Friday, one hiker remained hospitalized while the other had been treated and released. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks involved in mountain hiking and the importance of being prepared and aware of one’s surroundings.
Original Article Source: Denver Post
