Satellite phone used to communicate with dispatch, distressed hiker rescued at 10,500 feet in Pitkin County

A hiker who began experiencing health issues five miles up Capitol Creek Trail in Pitkin County was rescued Wednesday evening.

According to a Pitkin County alert, the hiker was in need of emergency medical services due to lower abdominal pain and lethargy. The hiker, in the company of his father and a passerby with a satellite phone, was said to be at an elevation of 10,500 feet.

The passerby used the satellite phone to provide Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch updates on the distressed hiker’s condition, according to the alert. Mountain Rescue was deployed to the trailhead where they established a ground team to await further instruction and the deployment of a Flight For Life helicopter. 

“The Capitol Creek trail extends approximately 16.8 miles at an elevation gain of 5,187 described as ‘hard’ with water crossings and moderate terrain with an average 10-hour-and-20-minute completion time,” the alert states.

The Flight For Life Helicopter landed at approximately 8:45 p.m. and departed at 8:50 p.m. with the patient on board and transported to (Aspen Valley Hospital), the alert states. 

MRA members asked the uninjured parties if they needed assistance to continue down the Capitol Creek trail, they denied assistance and continued descending to the trailhead parking area on their own. 

All MRA members were out of the field at approximately 10:05 p.m.

“The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office and Mountain Rescue Aspen would like to remind hikers entering the backcountry areas to prepare for various conditions and unexpected medical emergencies and that a two-way communication device could save your life,” the alert states.