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Man dies after fall from Mount Sneffels near Ouray

Another climber has fatal fall in Sangre de Cristos

A Colorado man died Friday from a fall while descending Mount Sneffels, according to the Ouray County Plaindealer.

The Ouray Mountain Rescue Team informed the newspaper that the man was climbing solo and had summited the 14,158-foot peak, west of Ouray. He fell 1,000 feet off the southwest ridge.

Rescue team Capt. Ruth Stewart told the Plaindealer the experienced climber was reported overdue by his family and a search began Friday evening. A plane spotted the body Saturday morning, and Montrose Helitack conducted the recovery.

“Our condolences to the family and friends of the fallen hiker,” the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team said in a Facebook post. “And many thanks to the agencies who assisted in this complex mission.”

Agencies involved in the effort included Ouray Mountain Rescue, Olathe Spray Service for aerial reconnaissance, Ridgway Fire Protection District, Montrose Helitack and Colorado Search and Rescue Association.

According to the Telluride Mountain Club, the Southwest Ridge route on Sneffels is more difficult than the standard Lavender Couloir route.

Sangre de Cristo fatality

On June 19, a climber died from a fall while climbing Pico Aislado, a 13,612-foot peak in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, southeast of Crestone, according to a Saguache County Search and Rescue Facebook post June 24.

The caller reported his climbing partner had fallen several hundred feet from the summit ridge down the east face.

Pico Aislado is a 13,612-foot peak in the Sangre de Cristos Mountains. (Courtesy of the Saguache County Search and Rescue)

Saguache Search and Rescue, Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue and Baca Grande Fire/EMS hiked to the location during the night.

Members of the Western Mountain Rescue and Chaffee County Search and Rescue South were flown in by Flight For Life Colorado at dawn and found the body.