HUERFANO COUNTY, Colo. — A search and rescue team recovered the body of a hiker last week who died after falling on the descent down from Blanca Peak in southern Colorado.
Rescue crews responded to a report of a fallen hiker, identified as Justin Seagren, on Wednesday. A Flight for Life helicopter spotted him, but there was no movement or signs of life, according to Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue (AVSAR).
AVSAR teams moved their technical gear to the bottom of the Saddle between Ellingwood Point and Blanca Peak. On Thursday morning, members of a highly skilled technical team rappelled to the hiker, who was hauled about 300 feet up to the ridgeline below the summit of Blanca.
A Canon City Helitack then flew in with a long line attached to the helicopter to complete the recovery, AVSAR said.
"AVSAR would like to extend their most sincere condolences to everyone who loved and knew Justin," AVSAR said on Facebook. "We cannot thank the reporting parties enough who stayed on scene for several hours after the accident, triggered their SOS immediately, and assisted the helicopter in locating him."
Other agencies that assisted were the Alamosa County Sheriff's Office, the Huerfano County Sheriff's Office, Flight for Life Colorado, REACH Air Medical Services and Canon Helitack.
Blanca Peak, whose summit is at 14,350 feet, is located in the Sangre de Cristo Range and is southeast of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
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