Past Missions – Custer County Search and Rescue

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Saguache County, Colo. – A solo hiker activated their Garmin In-Reach on Sunday afternoon, launching a large scale multi-agency rescue effort in the Kirk Couloir, that lasted overnight, and concluded mid-morning on Monday.

Overnight Rescue in Kirk Couloir

October 7, 2024

Saguache County, Colo. – A solo hiker activated their Garmin In-Reach on Sunday afternoon, launching a large scale multi-agency rescue effort in the Kirk Couloir, that lasted overnight, and concluded mid-morning on Monday.

Fall on Crestone Needle

August 23, 2024

Custer County Search and Rescue (SAR) was activated for an overdue hiker whose planned route was the Crestone Peak to Crestone Needle traverse.

Saguache County Search & Rescue activated a request for mutual aid for Custer County SAR to respond to a party of 4 who having trouble on the descent from Crestone Needle.

Lost Climber Crestone Needle

June 19, 2023

Saguache County Search & Rescue activated a request for mutual aid for Custer County SAR to respond to a party of 4 who having trouble on the descent from Crestone Needle.

Just after 2000 on Sunday, December 25, 2022, Custer County SAR was called out to assist a subject descending Humbolt Peak’s east ridge. The subject reported seeing a mountain lion and felt unsafe continuing down into the tree line on his descent.

Humbolt Peak East Ridge

December 26, 2022

Just after 2000 on Sunday, December 25, 2022, Custer County SAR was called out to assist a subject descending Humbolt Peak’s east ridge. The subject reported seeing a mountain lion and felt unsafe continuing down into the tree line on his descent.

AFA Cadets Recognize Custer SAR for Rescue

October 11, 2022

A small contingent of Custer County Search & Rescue (CCSAR) volunteers traveled to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs where more than 4,000 cadets at the AFA, an estimated 3,500 were on hand during a mid-day presentation to formally thank and recognize CCSAR members for the May 13th rescue of four Air Force Academy cadets.

Custer County SAR Ground Team members were concluding a field training, Saguache County Search & Rescue contacted CCSAR for assistance with a cliffed-out climber on Crestone Needle who went off-route during the descent.

Cliffed out climber E. Gully Crestone Needle

September 21, 2022

Custer County SAR Ground Team members were concluding a field training, Saguache County Search & Rescue contacted CCSAR for assistance with a cliffed-out climber on Crestone Needle who went off-route during the descent.

CCSAR was activated at approximately 2340 for a cold, exhausted hiker near the summit of Broken Hand Pass.

Exhausted Hiker Broken Hand Pass

August 23, 2022

CCSAR was activated at approximately 2340 for a cold, exhausted hiker near the summit of Broken Hand Pass.

Sunday, August 21, at approximately 1500 Custer County SAR was called out for an injured ATV driver who had rolled his machine off the Rainbow Trail between the Macey Lake TH and N. Colony Lakes TH. Three ATV teams and one ground team set out from the Horn Creek TH to assist the injured subject.

ATV Accident Rainbow Trail near Macey Lake

August 22, 2022

Sunday, August 21, at approximately 1500 Custer County SAR was called out for an injured ATV driver who had rolled his machine off the Rainbow Trail between the Macey Lake TH and N. Colony Lakes TH. Three ATV teams and one ground team set out from the Horn Creek TH to assist the injured subject.

Saint Charles Mushroom Hunter

August 12, 2022

August 13, 2022 Last night, Friday, August 12, at 2130 Custer County SAR was called out to assist a lost mushroom hunter near Saint Charles Peak in the Wet Mountains. Working from information provided by his family regarding the location of his vehicle and his last known GPS point, we were able to narrow down a search […]

On Wednesday, August 3, Custer County SAR was activated for two Denver-area climbers located at approx. 13,800 ft. near the Crestone Traverse. The pair had gotten off-route when one member sustained a fatal fall.

Crestone Traverse Fall: 8-3-22

August 4, 2022

On Wednesday, August 3, Custer County SAR was activated for two Denver-area climbers located at approx. 13,800 ft. near the Crestone Traverse. The pair had gotten off-route when one member sustained a fatal fall.

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 1645 Custer County SAR was called out to the Horn Peak Trail to support a hiker experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness.

AMS Horn Peak Trail: 7-13-22

July 14, 2022

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 1645 Custer County SAR was called out to the Horn Peak Trail to support a hiker experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness.

Saguache Assist Kit Carson Overdue

July 10, 2022

July 10, 2022 On Sunday night July 10, 2022, Saguache County Search and Rescue received a report of an overdue 41 year-old male climber in the Kit Carson / Challenger Point area. Luis Corkern was reported to have ascended Kit Carson via the north ridge route on Saturday July 9th, making the summit at approximately […]

Spread Eagle Fall

May 14, 2022

May 14, 2022 On Friday, May 13, 2022 at 1500 Custer County SAR was dispatched to help a climber who, according to the reporting party, had fallen approximately 200 feet from a ridge near Spread Eagle Peak. Three other members of the group were not able to reach him but could see he was injured. […]

Hermit Road ATV Rollover: 11-13-21

November 17, 2021

November 17, 2021 On Saturday, 11/13/21 at approx.1800 Custer County SAR was called out for an injured party from an ATV accident near Hermit Lake. Flight For Life Colorado and Custer County EMS and Fire initially responded to the call, but because the accident occurred off-trail in steep and difficult terrain, they were unable to […]

Overdue Climber, Traverse

September 13, 2021

September 13, 2021 Westcliffe, Colorado – September 12, 2021 – On Saturday, September 11, at approximately 0800 FRECOM Emergency Dispatch received a call about a 44 yr old male climber who was overdue in returning from climbing Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle. At approx. 1300 members of Division of Fire Protection and Control – Canon […]

Macey Lake Medical Mission

August 25, 2021

August 25, 2021 On Wednesday, Aug. 25 at approx. 0056 Custer County SAR was activated to respond to a subject at Macey Lake who was having a medical emergency. SAR Ground and ATV teams were fielded at 0430 to begin hiking to the subject. REACH Air Medical Services provided aerial support but was unable to […]

Two climbers stranded, bivy on Crestone Needle

August 23, 2021

August 23, 2021 On Saturday 8/21/20 at approx. 2040 Saguache County SAR requested Custer County SAR assume incident command for two climbers needing assistance on Crestone Needle. The climbers had summited Crestone Needle via the Ellingwood Arete. As they began their descent on the standard route, they realized that they had gone off-route and called […]

On Thursday 8/12/21 at approximately 1600, Saguache County SAR requested Custer County SAR’s assistance in providing help to a stranded climber in the East Gully of Crestone Needle.

Climber cliffed-out in East Gully of Crestone Needle: 8-12-21

August 12, 2021

On Thursday 8/12/21 at approximately 1600, Saguache County SAR requested Custer County SAR’s assistance in providing help to a stranded climber in the East Gully of Crestone Needle.

Recovery Mission on Broken Hand Pass: 2 & 3 August, 2011

August 3, 2021

August 4, 2011 Monday August 1st at 23:03, CCSAR was notified of an overdue climber who had not met up with his father in Gardner as planned, (where he planned to get batteries and a new SPOT unit to replace one he had dropped and broken). The 50 year old Denver area man had a […]

On Friday, 7.23.21 at approx. 1315 Custer County SAR was activated to help a party of 2 climbers descending Crestone Needle. After a fall, one climber sustained injuries and was 75′ below the other climber. Neither could safely continue descending from their location without help.

Crestone Needle Stranded and Injured: 07-23-21

July 23, 2021

On Friday, 7.23.21 at approx. 1315 Custer County SAR was activated to help a party of 2 climbers descending Crestone Needle. After a fall, one climber sustained injuries and was 75′ below the other climber. Neither could safely continue descending from their location without help.

Custer County SAR was called on to respond to a climber who was cliffed-out at an approximate elevation of 13,050’ on Crestone Needle. Saguache County SAR transferred command of the incident to CCSAR.

Cliffed-out on Crestone Needle 07-07-21

July 8, 2021

Custer County SAR was called on to respond to a climber who was cliffed-out at an approximate elevation of 13,050’ on Crestone Needle. Saguache County SAR transferred command of the incident to CCSAR.

Missions on Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak

July 3, 2021

July 3, 2021 July 3, 2021 was a big day for Custer County SAR in the Crestone Group. We were called to respond to missions on both Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak only hours apart. Our mutual aid partner Saguache SAR fielded the call and requested we take lead. They continued to provide support until […]

CusterCountySAR was activated for a party in need of assistance at approximately 12,000’ on the Little Horn Peak ridgeline yesterday evening, June 2nd. The hiker was ultimately able to self-extract, regaining the trail back to the Trailhead.

Little Horn Peak Ridgeline: 2021-01

June 3, 2021

CusterCountySAR was activated for a party in need of assistance at approximately 12,000’ on the Little Horn Peak ridgeline yesterday evening, June 2nd. The hiker was ultimately able to self-extract, regaining the trail back to the Trailhead.

Saguache Assist on Crestone Peak

July 4, 2020

July 4, 2020 On Friday, July 3, 2020, at 11:00 CCSAR was called to assist Saguache County Search and Rescue for a 60-year old male climber injured in a rock fall descending Crestone Peak. With support from the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) and Flight For Life (FFL), 6 SAR members on the […]

Saguache assist in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

June 13, 2020

July 13, 2020 On 7/12/2020 at approximately 0800 CCSAR began assisting Saguache County Search and Rescue and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve for a party needing assistance in the Music Pass area. CCSAR ground team and ATV team members were deployed, and Flight For Life was activated for assistance. At 1215 the […]

Saguache Assist

October 26, 2019

October 26, 2019 CCSAR was paged out on 10/23 at 0615 to assist neighboring Saguache County to search for an overdue hunter in the La Garita Mountains. We sent 6 Ground Team members and an ATV Team member who drove over to assist. Saguache County SAR facilitated the mission as Incident Command with assisting agencies […]

Overdue hunter in the Wet Mountains

October 26, 2019

October 26, 2019 Early Sunday morning the 20th, CCSAR was called out to search for an overdue hunter in the Wet Mountains. The team successfully located him in good spirits, if not a little cold and hungry after a chilly and windy night in his unplanned bivy. We want to extend our thanks to the […]

The SAR operation continues today and remains ongoing for an overdue hiker reported to Saguache County on July 24th, 2019 in the Kit Carson Peak/Challenger Point area.

Mission Update: 7-28-19

July 29, 2019

The SAR operation continues today and remains ongoing for an overdue hiker reported to Saguache County on July 24th, 2019 in the Kit Carson Peak/Challenger Point area.

Overdue Hiker Challenger Point

July 24, 2019

July 24, 2019 On the evening of Wednesday, July 24th, 2019, Saguache County received a 911 call for an overdue hiker in the Kit Carson Peak/Challenger Point area. The hiker had intended to summit both peaks and was reported overdue by family members. Saguache County Search and Rescue requested assistance from multiple agencies on Thursday, […]

Pueblo County assist near Blue Lakes

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2019 On June 30, 2019 at 1536, CCSAR was active for its 3rd mission in a week. Pueblo County requested assistance with a lost hiker in the Blue Lakes area near North Peak and Greenhorn Mountain. CCSAR deployed 3 members to the staging location with extensive knowledge of the surrounding area to act […]

On June 26th, 2019 at approximately 1945, Custer County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) was contacted by Saguache County Search and Rescue requesting that CCSAR assist with, and ultimately, assume Incident Command (IC) of a search for an overdue hiker presumed to be in the Willow Creek/Kit Carson area.

Fall near the Challenger and Kit Carson Saddle: June 26th, 2019

June 26, 2019

On June 26th, 2019 at approximately 1945, Custer County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) was contacted by Saguache County Search and Rescue requesting that CCSAR assist with, and ultimately, assume Incident Command (IC) of a search for an overdue hiker presumed to be in the Willow Creek/Kit Carson area.

Stranded Climbers on Ellingwood Arete

June 25, 2019

June 25, 2019 On June 22, 2019 at approximately 1730, two climbers on Crestone Needle’s Ellingwood Arete route, contacted the Custer County Sherriff’s Office requesting assistance after becoming stranded due to snow and ice on the route. Custer County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) was activated and our Incident Management Team (IMT) made contact with the […]

Northwest Couloir Mission

September 6, 2018

September 6, 2018 SAR teams have successfully completed a 2-day rescue operation of four (4) stranded male climbers from Crestone Peak’s Northwest Couloir. The climbers became stranded approximately 700 feet below the summit in dangerous terrain, complicated by the recent snowfall. The Custer County Sheriff’s office activated CCSAR on Tuesday, September 4th at approximately noon […]

North Colony Rescue

September 6, 2018

September 6, 2018 SAR teams have rescued a missing Richmond Virginia man in the North Colony Lakes area in Custer County. Jeffery Jamison, 50, was reported missing Saturday morning after failing to return from a climbing trip in the area. He was last heard from via text message, on Wednesday August 22nd at approximately noon. […]

Zapata Lakes Area: AVSAR Assist

May 2, 2018

May 2, 2018 Custer County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) responded Monday and Tuesday (April 30 & May 1) to a mutual aid request from Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue (AVSAR) in a search for a missing hiker in the South Zapata Creek area. At dark on Monday ground teams were recalled. The search resumed 630A […]

$Custer County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) was notified by the Custer County Sheriff’s office at 15:25 on Sunday, August 13th, of a hiker who had fallen on Crestone Needle and had a reported lower leg compound fracture.$

Crestone Needle Fall: Aug 13, 2017

August 13, 2017

Custer County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) was notified by the Custer County Sheriff’s office at 15:25 on Sunday, August 13th, of a hiker who had fallen on Crestone Needle and had a reported lower leg compound fracture.

Custer County Search and Rescue members were again stretched thin this past week, with missions spanning five consecutive days.

Helmet Saves Mans Life on Crestone Needle Fall

August 15, 2016

Custer County Search and Rescue members were again stretched thin this past week, with missions spanning five consecutive days.

Beginning July 9th, a 54 year old Denver woman was reported to be seriously ill above tree-line on Humboldt Peak; suffering from AMS, along with reporting sign and symptoms consistent with a coronary event.

2 weeks in July…

July 24, 2016

Beginning July 9th, a 54 year old Denver woman was reported to be seriously ill above tree-line on Humboldt Peak; suffering from AMS, along with reporting sign and symptoms consistent with a coronary event.

Texas Trauma Surgeon Dies in Fall

September 9, 2015

September 9, 2015 Custer County Search and Rescue responded for a recovery mission on Crestone Needle’s Ellingwood Arête route on Thursday September 3rd after receiving two 911 notifications just before 10:00 am. Western State Mountain Rescue Team and Saguache County SAR also participated as mutual aid in the two day mission. Dr. Matt Davis of Belmote […]

Texas Man Injured in Hunting Mishap with Mule

September 9, 2015

September 9, 2015 Custer County Search and Rescue responded to extract a Texas man from the Texas Creek trail #1350 on Monday, September 7th. James Woodfin, 76 of Midland Texas, who was hunting in the area, was seriously injured when the mule he was riding on fell, landing on top of him. Woodfin’s hunting partner […]

The Custer County Sheriff’s office received a 911 call at 08:54 on Thursday, August 27th, from a Dallas man, who said his 75 year old hiking partner had left camp on Wednesday morning at 07:30, to hike Humboldt Peak on his own. He did not return to camp that night.

Hiker Overdue in Camp

August 28, 2015

The Custer County Sheriff’s office received a 911 call at 08:54 on Thursday, August 27th, from a Dallas man, who said his 75 year old hiking partner had left camp on Wednesday morning at 07:30, to hike Humboldt Peak on his own. He did not return to camp that night.

Custer County Search and Rescue was called out on Friday, December 14th, at 18:27 for an overdue person. The report was that the subject was going to cut a Christmas tree in the Hardscrabble area of Hwy 96.

Hectic Weekend for local SAR teams in the Sangres

August 18, 2015

Custer County Search and Rescue was called out on Friday, December 14th, at 18:27 for an overdue person. The report was that the subject was going to cut a Christmas tree in the Hardscrabble area of Hwy 96.

Rainbow Trail Assist

July 29, 2015

July 28, 2015 On the afternoon of July 24th, Custer County Search and Rescue provided first aid and transportation to a distressed hiker on the Rainbow Trail just north of Gibson Trailhead. The Custer County Sheriff’s Office had received a call at 15:30 that afternoon from Michael Baggett, an injured man who reported being out […]

A Denver man died Friday after falling more than 800 feet in an area near Crestone Peak. It was the third reported incident in two weeks on the Peak. Custer County assisted in the transportation of personnel from the field only.

Fatal Fall on Crestone Peak / Red Gully

July 28, 2015

A Denver man died Friday after falling more than 800 feet in an area near Crestone Peak. It was the third reported incident in two weeks on the Peak. Custer County assisted in the transportation of personnel from the field only.

South Branch of North Brush Creek

July 21, 2015

July 21, 2015 CCSAR was activated by the Sheriff’s office Thursday, July 16th at 09:47. They had received a call from CSRB who had coordinates for an activated SPOT Personal Locator Beacon in NW Custer County. The distress signal had been activated by the register user. Those coordinates came to CSRB from the Air Force […]

Red Gully Crestone Peak July 11, 2015, looking down from rescue scene at water and snow.

Crestone Peak Red Gully Incidents

July 15, 2015

aguache County SAR, Custer County SAR and Western State Mountain Rescue Team, (Gunnison County), responded to a 39 year old fallen climber with serious injuries on Crestone Peak on Saturday July 11th.

Lost Hikers Hwy 165 Area

June 4, 2015

June 4, 2015 Custer County Search and Rescue was called out to respond to Hwy 165 on Tuesday afternoon, June 2nd, after a 911 call was received by Pueblo County at 12:35. The reporting party was one of three young men who reported that they had left Bishop’s Castle at 3:00 pm the previous afternoon […]

Two climbers rescued after fall on Crestone Needle

April 16, 2015

April 16, 2015 Source: Wet Mountain Tribune Two climbers rescued after fall; night in the Sangres Two experienced mountain climbers were rescued early Tuesday morning after falling while technical climbing in the Crestone Needle area Monday evening and spending the night in the wilderness. “They are lucky to be alive,” said John Leavitt, co-captain of […]

Custer County Search and Rescue was deployed Thursday January 22nd, at 12:35 pm, to recovery the body of a Wisconsin man in a steep wooded drainage above Adobe Creek Road in the Wetmore area.

Adobe Creek Recovery

January 25, 2015

Custer County Search and Rescue was deployed Thursday January 22nd, at 12:35 pm, to recovery the body of a Wisconsin man in a steep wooded drainage above Adobe Creek Road in the Wetmore area.

Lost Youth at Pole Creek

October 18, 2014

October 18, 2014 A Good Ending Custer County Search and Rescue was activated at approximately 18:30 on Saturday October 18th, for a 13 year old male from the Pueblo area that went missing earlier that morning, during a hunting trip with his father and grandfather. The youth, Clayton Jones, of Avondale, had been last seen […]