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July 30-31 Sneffels rescue

Severe weather, including hail and lightning forced a delay in accessing the fallen hiker. Safety of the rescuers is paramount. Compounding the situation was a partial washout of the Camp Bird Road above the Governor's Basin turnoff. A Ouray Silver Mine grader cleared it.

Rescuer comforts 50-year-old fall victim, whose condition improved dramatically under the care of the Rescue Team, during a 12-hour bivouac on the mountainside.

A National Guard high-altitude helicopters out of Rifle with two rescue technicians from Aspen approach the Sneffels summit at 7:25 a.m. Saturday..

Seventeen Rescue Team members participated in the incident, which required numerous trips up the Lavender Col to keep the bivouackers warm and fed. Here, several look on as helicopter works its magic.

Blue skies and the morning sun were welcomed early on July 31 while awaiting a helicopter to pluck the victim off the mountain.