Man dies after falling on hike

A 37-year-old man died after falling 40 feet while hiking near the Palmer Lake Reservoir trail area.

He was hiking with a friend late Saturday night when he fell and the friend went back to their camp to call for help. The man was alive when the search-and-rescue team reached him, but died iwhile they were giving aid.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office public information officer says that with the nice weather, people are still hiking late into the season. She warns how important it is to try and hike with a partner.

“You should never ever go hiking alone, regardless of your skill level, regardless of equipment and the expertise that you have it’s always wise to have somebody with you in a case just like this,” said Jacqueline Kirby, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office PIO.

The man’s identity has not been released yet and there is an autopsy scheduled for early in the week.