A family of five visiting from Chicago was rescued from Greenhorn Mountain in southern Colorado on Wednesday night after they became fatigued and stranded, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
The family of three adults and two children set out from the Greenhorn Trailhead on Wednesday morning, which is about 35 miles southwest of Pueblo near the town of Rye.
Greenhorn Trail is an eight-mile moderate trail that includes 3,880 feet of elevation gain, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The hikers were near the summit when they were hampered by the effects of altitude, unexpected snow and their experience level, according to Pueblo County officials.
As the sun started to set, the group realized they had a long way to go with no food and inadequate clothing, and called 911 for help.
A Pueblo County Search and Rescue team was flown by Flight for Life to the top of North Peak and found the family via GPS and gave them food, water and warming supplies.
The rescue team hiked with the family a mile over the peak, where they were joined by county and local fire personnel, and then hiked to Ophir Creek, where emergency vehicles were waiting for them, according to Pueblo County officials.
While the rescue effort took extensive coordination over seven hours, the family did things that helped with their rescue, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Those included having items from an outdoor survival kit, telling other family members their plans before they left, and being aware they needed help before the sun set, their mobile phones died or it became a life-threatening emergency.
The family also followed emergency dispatcher instructions and stayed in one place until rescuers could find them.
“We remind hikers or anyone going on trails or in the mountains to be prepared and aware of conditions and abilities before going out, especially this time of year when conditions can change rapidly, and the sun sets earlier,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.
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