Cries for help heard by campers lead to overnight rescue, Colorado officials say

An injured climber’s cries for help set off an overnight search on a Colorado mountain, rescuers reported.

Two climbers separated on their way up Capitol Peak, with one electing to continue on to the summit, on Friday, Aug. 15, Mountain Rescue Aspen said in a news release.

When the climber failed to return five hours later, the second climber called 911 to report them overdue at 6:52 p.m., rescuers said.

As rescuers began planning their search, they received a report that campers on the mountain heard someone calling for help, the organization said.

Volunteers began searching the mountain at 9:51 p.m., with the help of an aerial team, rescuers said.

After hearing more cries for help, searchers found the missing climber, who had been injured, at 4:16 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, rescuers said.

A Colorado National Guard High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site helicopter team hoisted the climber and airlifted them to a hospital for medical care, rescuers said.

Capitol Peak is outside Aspen, which is about a 160-mile drive southwest from Denver.

This story was originally published August 18, 2025 at 10:44 AM with the headline "Cries for help heard by campers lead to overnight rescue, Colorado officials say."