65-year-old man rescued from La Plata Peak early Tuesday

The Chaffee County Search and Rescue North and South spearheaded an effort to rescue a person stranded on a snowfield below the summit of La Plata Peak on Tuesday.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. the victim — who has since been identified as sixty-five-year-old Jeffrey Ashby — was airlifted from his location and transported to a waiting Flight for Life helicopter in Twin Lakes. He was flown to Summit Medical Center to treat possible fractures.

On Monday, hikers had told Search and Rescue that they had heard a person yelling for help in the area.

Searchers combed the area where the screams were last heard and noticed a light flashing below the summit just before nightfall. Searchers attempted to approach the light but were unable to get close enough to see the victim because of the treacherous terrain.

They called Flight for Life for assistance and pilots were soon able to spot a person on a steep snowfield. However, Flight for Life was unable to maneuver into position for a rescue operation, so a Reach helicopter was called in. A paramedic and rescue member dropped from the helicopter near the summit and managed to reach the victim at about 3 a.m. Tuesday.

The Air National Guard, High Altitude Training Center in Gypsum was contacted and arrangements were made to have a helicopter hoist the victim from the location.