Rescuers load Shawn Erickson, 42 of Fort Collins, into a Flight for Life helicopter Saturday on Grizzly Peak in northern Chaffee County. He was injured in a 50 foot fall down a slope. Chaffee County Search and Rescue North required assistance from two helicopters to rescue hikers from different mountains Saturday. Courtesy photo by Terry Peavler
Rescuers respond to two incidents
Kevin Hoffman
Mail Staff Writer
Separate hiker rescues, one from 14,361-foot La Plata Peak and the other from 13,988-foot Grizzly Peak, were conducted Saturday by Chaffee County Search and Rescue North personnel and two medical helicopters.
Chaffee County Sheriff Pete Palmer said a call for help was about received at 8 a.m. for John Miller, 61 of Littleton, who had chest pains and believed he was having a heart attack.
He and his brother, Duncan Miller, 56 of Evergreen, sent a SPOT emergency beacon page to International Emergency Unit which relayed the distress message to Chaffee County authorities.
The men were on an overnight hiking trip to the summit of La Plata Peak. Palmer said they started from La Plata Peak Trailhead near the old mining town of Winfield.
Meanwhile, two unknown medical doctors hiking the area happened upon the victim. Suspecting a heart attack, they administered first aid and stayed with Miller and his brother.
A Flight for Life helicopter landed about 12:30 p.m. and with volunteers on hand and medical personnel to help, Miller was airlifted to St. Anthony Hospital in Denver.
Palmer said he spoke with Miller by telephone Sunday. Miller expressed thanks for the two unidentified doctors on the trail when he required assistance.
While Miller’s rescue was in progress, Chaffee County dispatchers received the second distress call about 12:30 p.m. for Shawn Erickson, 42 of Fort Collins.
Erickson and his friend Gary Fannin, 43 of Erie, were hiking on the south face of Grizzly Peak at about 13,000 feet when Erickson fell about 50 feet on the slope. He injured his leg, chest and head.
Palmer said Fannin left his companion and hiked to Twin Lakes where he called 911. Chaffee County Search and Rescue North and Chaffee County Emergency Medical Service personnel met him in Twin Lakes.
Using the La Plata Trailhead near Independence Pass in Lake County as the most accessible route to the mountain, rescuers started the ascent toward the injured man in Chaffee County about 2 p.m.
Palmer said rescuers were aided by two unidentified all terrain vehicle riders from Buena Vista who loaned their vehicles to assist rescuers
The second Flight For Life helicopter of the day landed in a meadow near the victim about 2:40 p.m. Palmer said.
Accompanied by the Flight For Life Nurse, Palmer said, rescuers climbed to Erickson within 40 minutes. He was transported on a rescue sled to the aircraft, arriving about 6 p.m. for transport to a Colorado Springs hospital.
Palmer said Erickson was conscious during his rescue. He said he hadn’t learned the condition of the injured man by Sunday afternoon.
