Kingston Peak 2 Day Recovery
Kingston Peak 2 Day Recovery
Photo courtesy of Colorado 4×4 Rescue & Recovery Members
At 09:00 on October 13th, 2017 Colorado 4×4 Rescue and Recovery was contacted by 2 private parties requesting assistance recovering 2 vehicles mired in deep snow from an event occurring 72 hours before. A team consisting of 5 rigs with 5 people was put together in 30 minutes for a scheduled recovery on Kingston Peak in Clear Creek County. The requesting parties had ventured too deep into snow on the north side of a ridge and become stuck. Team arrived on scene at 09:00. Weather was 30 deg. and sunny with northerly breeze. Elevation was 12,100 feet. Clear Creek County Sheriff office was notified of the operation. Two recovery rigs approached the first stuck vehicle and the team was able to dig out the first mired vehicle. The sun melted the surface of the snow and the two rescue vehicles had sunk in. 1 redirected winch, 1 pull pal, 2 traction boards and 150 feet of winch line was used to extricate 1 recovery rig before the recovery was called due to darkness. Clear Creek County Sheriff was notified of the team’s departure and the disposition of the recovery at 17:00 hours.
On October 14th, 2018 a snow storm passed through the area and no recovery could be attempted and at 08:00 hours on October 15th, 2018 a second recovery team was sent to the Kingston location to extricate the 1 recovery rig left behind and 1 client vehicle. Clear Creek County Sheriff office was notified of the team arrival on scene. 20 vehicles with 23 people were included in the team with 1 dedicated comms person. 4 former or current medical professionals were in the recovery team. Weather was sunny but windy and temperatures hovered around 25 deg. Upon arrival another private vehicle was discovered on scene, behind the one recovery rig left behind two days previous. The new vehicle had two occupants who were assessed by the medical personnel and Clear Creek County Sheriff was notified of the new situation. 1 rear facing mobile winch, 2 pull pals, 8 traction boards, 900 feet of winch lines, extensions and tow straps were used in the recovery. Both vehicles were extricated over a half mile of 4 feet of snow. 1 winch failed in the recovery and 2 traction boards were damaged. 3 members had to leave the mountain with altitude sickness symptoms that cleared once they returned to the Front Range. 1 member dealt with sinus issues but returned to the work force after medications took effect. The last 600 feet of hill consisted of a double pull from 2 winched rigs and 5 anchor vehicles. A second team of 3 members arrived on scene later in the afternoon. The recovery rig was recovered along with the found private party rig at 22:50 hours. Clear Creek County Sheriff Office was notified the team was clear.
27 member rigs were on scene over 2 days.
30 members were on scene over 2 days.
5 dispatchers monitored recovery over 2 days.
140 hours from initial contact, recovery was terminated.
321 member hours over 2 days.
31 member dispatch hours over 2 days
Photo courtesy of Colorado 4×4 Rescue & Recovery Members
Photo courtesy of Colorado 4×4 Rescue & Recovery Members
Photo courtesy of Colorado 4×4 Rescue & Recovery Members
Photo courtesy of Colorado 4×4 Rescue & Recovery Members
Photo courtesy of Colorado 4×4 Rescue & Recovery Members
Photo courtesy of Colorado 4×4 Rescue & Recovery Members