A family of Chicago hikers had a lucky escape Wednesday after becoming stranded atop Colorado’s Greenhorn Mountains after nightfall, and officials praised the family for acting quickly when they realized they were in danger. .
The family of five, three adults and two children, hiked the Greenhorn Trailhead Wednesday morning and were nearing the summit when they were slowed by the effects of worsening conditions along the icy terrain, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
The unexpected snow and the effects of the high altitude were taking their toll on the family, as they fatigued without food and with inadequate clothing for the extremely cold weather.
And, with nightfall and temperatures plummeting atop the 11,300-foot mountain, the Chicago family soon realized they wouldn’t be able to return to their starting point and called 911 for help.
A multi-agency rescue team was then quickly assembled and sprung into action.
Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteer members were flown to the top of North Peak, where they were able to locate the frozen family via GPS signals. They gave food, water and extra clothing to the trembling family.
Officials praised the family for acting quickly when they realized they were in danger. X/Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
The SAR team then hiked with the family about a mile over the peak, where they were met by fire personnel who had hiked from the Bartlett Trailhead.
The entire group then walked the rest of the way to the top of Ophir Creek, where emergency vehicles were waiting.
The groups then made their way down the mountain safely, the PCSO said, where the family was reunited with relatives who had been absent from the hike. The PCSO said the rescue operation took seven hours to complete.
Photos released by the PCSO show the difficult snowy terrain last Wednesday.
Photos released by the PCSO show the difficult snowy terrain last Wednesday. X/Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
Despite finding themselves in a dangerous situation, PCSO commended the family for taking a number of precautions before embarking on the trek and having the means to call for help before their cell phones died.
For example, the family had an outdoor survival kit and told their relatives about their hiking plans before leaving.
They also followed the 911 operator’s instructions and remained in one location until rescuers could arrive and locate them.
PCSO alerted mountain hikers, or trail walkers, to be prepared and aware of the rapidly changing conditions before setting out, noting that temperatures drop dramatically in the winter months when the weather sets. sun.
The Greenhorn Trail is 7.8 miles long. Its initial elevation is 7,460 feet and it peaks at 11,340 feet, a gain of 3,880 feet, according to the Forest Service.
The agency listed the trail as moderate hiking.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn