The two men were rescued from the Longs Peak mountain in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park on Feb. 7
Courtesy RMNP
NEED TO KNOW
- Two male hikers, ages 47 and 50, were rescued from Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park
- The National Park Service shared that the men were stranded overnight due to unsafe air conditions for rescue helicopters
- The men told first responders that they were “incapacitated” and could not continue their route
Two hikers have been rescued after becoming stranded overnight while climbing Longs Peak mountain in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park.
On Monday, Feb. 9, the National Park Service revealed in a press release that rangers rescued the two men on Saturday after they called for assistance on the Kiener’s Route portion of Longs Peak the night before.
The men, ages 47 and 50, were rescued at "approximately 14,000 feet,” officials said.
“They reported they were incapacitated, unable to continue their route, and had not planned to remain overnight," the release noted.
Officials continued communication with the men throughout the night before beginning their rescue operations on Saturday morning.
The operation included two Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue teams and the Larimer County Search and Rescue who “began hiking toward the Longs Peak area.”
Rocky Mountain National Park via AP
Due to strong winds, the U.S. Forest Service helicopter and a Flight For Life helicopter were forced to abort their flights.
PEOPLE has contacted the National Park Service for further comment.
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“Through established partnerships with Colorado Search and Rescue, additional resources were requested from the Colorado National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility at Buckley Space Force Base,” officials said.
At around 2:15 p.m. rescuers from Alpine Rescue and Rocky Mountain Rescue and flight crew arrived on Longs Peak’s summit in a Chinook helicopter.
Alamy
Collecting the hikers from the summit, they were then flown to Upper Beaver Meadows Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.
“Park rangers remind visitors that winter conditions can persist in the high country even when overall snowpack is below average,” the National Park Service concluded. “Those recreating in alpine environments should plan ahead and be prepared for ice, snow, high winds, and subzero temperatures.”
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