ESTES PARK, Colo. (KREX) – Two male climbers were rescued from the summit of Longs Peak on Saturday afternoon after becoming incapacitated at approximately 14,000 feet the night before. Rocky Mountain National Park rangers and several search and rescue agencies coordinated the operation on Feb. 7 amid high winds that limited air operations.
The climbers, ages 47 and 50, contacted rangers late Friday night while on Kiener’s Route. They reported they were unable to continue their route and had not planned to remain overnight on the mountain.
Rangers maintained communication with the climbers throughout Friday night and launched ground rescue operations early Saturday morning. Two Search and Rescue teams from Rocky Mountain National Park and members of Larimer County Search and Rescue began hiking toward the Longs Peak area. High winds prevented initial attempts at an aerial rescue…