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Alpine Rescue Team

UPDATED INFORMATION REGARDING LIGHTNING STRIKE ON TORREY’S PEAK JUNE 12, 2025

June 18, 2025

Due to dozens of media inquiries regarding the recent lightning strike on Torrey’s Peak, Alpine Rescue Team are providing incident information and updates below. 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 18, 2025

Details on High-Altitude Lightning Strike and Hoist Rescue on Torrey’s Peak by Alpine Rescue Team and Colorado National Guard 

EVERGREEN, CO – In response to dozens of media inquiries, Alpine Rescue Team is releasing details about the search and rescue mission for two hikers struck by lightning on Torrey’s Peak on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

We wish the hikers a full and speedy recovery. If  significant new information becomes available, the Team will update upon their social media pages.

Incident Summary

  • Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
  • Location: Kelso Ridge, Torrey’s Peak, Clear Creek County, CO (Elevation: ~14,000 feet)
  • Mission Number: This was Alpine Rescue Team’s 50th mission of 2025.

Timeline

Before 5:00 PM, two hikers from New York, who had become lost on the technical Kelso Ridge route, called 911 call for help. An Alpine Rescue Team Mission Coordinator made phone contact and directed the hikers toward a safer descent route, which included crossing the summit of Torrey’s Peak.

While the hikers were on the phone with the Mission Coordinator, lightning hit them. The reporting hiker stated his companion was momentarily unconscious and “foaming at the mouth.”

Alpine Rescue Team immediately initiated a full-team emergency field response with over 30 members responding. However, severe storms in the area grounded all initial air support.

After 11:00 PM, a window of improved weather allowed the Colorado Army National Guard High-Altitude ARNG Aviation Training Site (HAATS) from Gypsum to launch. Flying with two hoist rescue technicians from Vail Mountain Rescue Group, the helicopter crew successfully hoisted the more severely injured hiker from the summit. He was flown to a waiting Clear Creek County EMS ambulance and transported to a Denver-area hospital for critical care. He continues to receive treatment for severe burns. This is believed to be one of the highest hoist rescues ever performed in Colorado.

The second hiker, who sustained minor injuries,  was evacuated via a second helicopter flight after a two-wheel landing on the summit. He was transported to a local emergency department and released two days later.

Multi-Agency Collaboration

This complex and dangerous nighttime high-altitude rescue was a coordinated effort between many agencies, including:

Mountain Safety Recommendations

Lightning is a significant and frequent danger in the Rocky Mountains. All hikers should follow these safety recommendations:

  • Start Early, Finish Early: Plan to be off summits and ridges by 11:00 am. Afternoon thunderstorms build quickly and are a common occurrence.
  • Check the Forecast: Always check the weather forecast for the specific mountain you plan to climb. Do not rely on general city forecasts.
  • Be Prepared: Carry the “Ten Essentials” for safety, including rain gear, extra layers, a headlamp, and navigation tools.
  • Know Your Limits: Choose trails and routes that match your fitness and experience level.
  • Communicate Your Plan: Tell someone your exact route and your expected return time.
  • Call for Help: If you are lost, injured, or in danger, call or text 911 immediately.

About Colorado Search and Rescue

In Colorado, search and rescue (SAR) operations are the statutory responsibility of each County Sheriff. Volunteer organizations, like Alpine Rescue Team, operate under a formal agreement with the sheriff’s office to carry out these duties as non-paid professional rescue mountaineers.

  • No Charge for Rescue: Alpine Rescue Team is a 501(c)3 non-profit and never charges for rescue. The team’s mission is search, rescue, and recovery services, supported entirely by donations and grants.
  • Hoist Rescue Capabilities: The Colorado Army National Guard partners with four nationally-accredited Colorado volunteer SAR teams, whose members train rigorously to serve as rescue technicians for life-threatening missions in hazardous terrain. Alpine Rescue Team currently has eight qualified Hoist Technicians.

Alpine Rescue Team NEVER CHARGES FOR RESCUES.

For more safety information, please visit the Alpine Rescue Team website.