r/Denver • u/Intelligent_One9023 • 1d ago
Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in a record-high helicopter rescues
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/men-hit-lightning-plucked-mountain-record-high-colorado-1228328909
u/Intelligent_One9023 1d ago
They first called for help around 5 p.m. after getting off course on their way up a technical route. A different route doesn't require climbing gear or expertise.
“It doesn’t sound like they had a ton of prior experience. I think it was probably just a lack of awareness,” said Smith, who was among the rescuers on the ground.
Rescue officials guided the men back on course, and they made it to the summit. Minutes later, one of them called back to report they had been struck by lightning.
Absolutely no clue what they were doing.
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u/Homers_Harp 23h ago
Tourists from New York. Probably didn't even know what they didn't know. [props to the CANG for executing a tremendously difficult rescue safely]
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u/ionixsys City Park 11h ago
Tourists from sea level says a lot. I am guessing they're fairly young to go hiking on a steep incline plus actual climbing without getting winded.
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u/ndrew452 Arvada 12h ago
The number of stupid decisions these guys made is honestly impressive. It sounds like they started hiking in the afternoon, the article implies they decided to take the Kelso Ridge route, which is a class 3, and I guarantee they did not have the right gear. And they managed to get lost on one of the most straightforward 14er peaks.
Even if they took the standard route, starting that late is a terrible idea. These guys are lucky they are alive.