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Colorado helitack crews utilize new training in high-altitude rescue over the weekend

Posted at 7:12 PM, May 31, 2023
and last updated 2023-06-01 00:25:09-04

CUSTER COUNTY, CO — A high mountain rescue from over the weekend shows the value of the fire helitack crews working in collaboration with search and rescue teams.

According to a Facebook post from Custer County Search & Rescue, they completed the rescue Monday afternoon after a hiker fell in snowy conditions at Humboldt Peak, located southwest of Westcliffe.

News5 recently showed you the hover step training happening at the helitack base in Cañon City that included Custer County Search & Rescue.

The purpose is to get in and out of a helicopter where there's no place to land. Just over a week later the two crews teamed up to help a hiker who was injured and in trouble on a mountain slope above 12,000 feet.

News5 recently did a story about how to be a safe trail user.

This video from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control shows a chopper flying into the Humboldt Peak Area of Custer County to aid with a high-altitude rescue.
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