A climber was seriously injured after being struck by a large rock and falling over 30 feet in the Hourglass gully below Little Bear Peak, a notoriously dangerous area in Colorado’s Sangre De Cristo range. The climber, who was not wearing a helmet, was found unresponsive and was airlifted by the Colorado Air National Guard with assistance from the Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue (AVSAR) team. Rescue efforts involved ground teams navigating difficult terrain and a technical lower operation prepared as a backup to the helicopter hoist.

The rescue was coordinated after an SOS signal was activated by the reporting parties, who stayed with the injured climber to provide stability. AVSAR deployed specialized 4×4 vehicles and helicopter teams to reach the site, redirecting other climbers to ensure safety and space for the operation. The injured climber was successfully hoisted out in a stable flight bag and transported to a Front Range hospital, while the rescue team safely extracted all personnel and concluded the mission.