Body of Missing Maroon Bells Climber Located, Recovery Set for Tuesday
Search teams discovered the remains of a climber who had been reported missing in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, and officials plan to retrieve the body on Tuesday.
Officials confirmed that a climber who was reported missing to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday has been located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. An aerial search by a Mountain Rescue Aspen volunteer and CareFlight of the Rockies crew identified the body on Thursday. Recovery will be delayed until Tuesday due to the area’s steep, exposed routes and rockfall risk, prompting the U.S. Forest Service to close Maroon Peak.
The sheriff’s office will disclose the climber’s identity after the body is recovered and relatives are informed. The incident has led rescue groups to urge backcountry travelers to file detailed itineraries and carry essential safety gear.
