A goat hunter in the Maroon Bells died Sunday while packing out a goat.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_26487093/hunter- injured-near-aspen-dies-after-high-altitude
Be as safe as possible out there.
I just returned from a goat hunt in BC. You can get in a bad spot in a hurry. They live in some nasty country. Be safe!
LINK's Link
Hunter injured near Aspen dies after high altitude helicopter rescue By Jesse Paul The Denver Post Posted: 09/07/2014 04:43:04 PM MDT2 Comments | Updated: about 17 hours ago
A Jefferson County man who fell 60 to 80 feet off a cliff near the Maroon Bells while hunting died Sunday after being flown to an Aspen hospital, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office.
Hikers discovered the unresponsive 42-year-old hunter on North Maroon Peak — roughly 11 miles south of Aspen — about 6 a.m. after they heard him moaning in agony. The hunter, who has not been identified, fell with a goat he'd shot, landing near a popular hiking trail, the office said.
One of the hikers ran down the trail until he had cellphone service and called emergency responders.
"It was obviously very serious injuries," Deputy George Kremer told The Denver Post.
Mountain Rescue Aspen, Flight for Life and the High Altitude Aviation Training site in Gypsum were called to assist the injured man. Rescuers reached the hunter about 8 a.m. and he was then flown by helicopter to Aspen Valley Hospital where he died about three hours later.
The hunter was found at an altitude of about 11,200 feet. Kremer said a GoPro camera the man was wearing helped emergency responders determine aspects of his hunting trip and the fall.
He apparently posted on Bosite back in June looking for G12 info.
Prayers to his family.
Sandbrew
Mountain goat hunter dies on North Maroon by Carolyn Sackariason, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer Monday, September 8, 2014 Printer-friendly version Email this Story
One of only a handful given a license, Littleton man succumbs to injuries from 60-80 foot fall
A 42-year-old man from Littleton, Colo. died after falling an estimated 60 to 80 feet on North Maroon Peak while he was hunting for mountain goat.
The victim has been identified as Ted Leach by the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office. The cause of death was multiple systems trauma.
A climber from Denver at 5:45 a.m. was ascending the standard route of the fourtneer when he and his partner heard what they thought was an animal but then realized it was moaning from the injured hunter, said Pitkin County sheriff’s deputy George Kremer.
Once they contacted Leach, the climber rapidly descended until he had cell phone coverage and called 911 at about 6:15 a.m. He was able to give latitude and longitude of Leach’s location, which was at around 11,200 feet. Other climbers attempted to stabilize the injured man while waiting for help, Kremer said.
“When they found him, they stayed with him and onlookers were helpful,” Kremer said. “We had a good response from those in the backcountry.”
Members of Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) were notified and a ground crew went in on foot, as well as an air team via a Gypsum-based High Altitude Aviation Training Site (HAATS) Blackhawk helicopter. They reached Leach at 7:45 a.m. with advanced life support equipment, and the Blackhawk pilot landed the helicopter on one skid on a talus slope below the cliff he fell from. He was airlifted and taken to a landing spot near Crater Lake. Flight for Life then transported Leach to Aspen Valley Hospital at 10:43 a.m.; he was pronounced dead at 11 a.m., Kremer said.
Leach was one of a handful of individuals who received a license from Colorado Parks and Wildlife to hunt mountain goat this season. He was successful in bagging an animal and was carrying the head, hide and meat on his pack when he fell, Kremer said. His pack, estimated at 100 pounds, was found nearby, along with his rifle. He was hiking alone.
His camp was found at Minnehaha Gulch in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area.
By noon, all rescue members were out of the field.
“It was a tragic event but an amazing effort by MRA,” Kremer said.
He did post on the site on June 4 asking for help and speaking of his excitement and having drawn the tag. Very very eerie to read that post three months later and knowing how his dream trip ended.
Godspeed brother hunter!!
michael
I don't want this to sound bad...but I would rather die out doing something that I love (like hunting) than in a hospital bed from cancer or getting killed in a motor vehicle crash.
I kissed my wife and two young boys goodbye as I left for the airport headed to BC for my goat hunt and I promised myself, I swore I wouldn't put myself in a situation that I couldn't get out of.
I lied to myself.
My goat died in a terrible place that required ropes to reach. We haas no way to climb back up once we descended to him and relied solely on luck, hoping we didn't get cliffed-out below the goat.
I really think luck plays such a big roll, I got lucky of course, but tragically, the hunter above had his luck run out.
Godspeed.
This hit home for me even though I didn't know him. I'm about the same age, have two daughters (heard the same about him on another site), and just went goat hunting two years ago.
Goat hunting is no joke, I was very lucky mine dropped in an easy spot for recovery. He was only a hundred yards from some nasty cliffs.
RIP, and prayers for his family and friends.
If someone finds a donation site for his family post it up
Sounds like the hikers and rescue people did a remarkable job - at least they gave him a chance.
There is some inherent risk in all outdoor activities and hunting. Due to the nature of where they live, it is probably a little more risky on Goat hunts.
R.I.P Brother.
I hunted with a guide when I killed my goat last year in B.C., but I do a lot of solo hunting in general. I started carrying a personal locator beacon around six years ago, and always have it in my pack in case of emergency. They are very small now, weigh less, and are under $300 to buy (ACR ResQLink)...very cheap insurance compared to the cost of a bow or even a tag these days. I hope I never have to activate mine, but feel better knowing its in my pack and that the U.S. Air Force will execute the SAR if I need their help in a life threatening situation.
It may or may not have saved Ted Leach...but minutes count in rescue situations...and I'm very sorry he wasn't rescued in time.
Again prayers to his family and friends...and be safe to the rest of you heading into goat country.
Axle2axle for the solo hunter it is a must !!!
Rest in peace, Ted.
Prayers from Utah for him and his family.
Good luck, Robb