| The Knife Edge on Capitol Peak, site of a fatal accident this morning |
A climber died this morning from an apparent fall from the infamous Knife Edge on Capitol Peak. According to a report on 9news.com, the hiker fell from the notoriously exposed crux of the mountain that is oft-touted as Colorado's hardest 14er. Friends who were with the victim said he fell to east side of the skinny ridgeline.
A recovery team was inserted on the scene by helicopter but determined the injuries were too severe to warrant a rescue. The inaccessible terrain and unfavorable weather conditions made recovery too dangerous. The recovery operation was hoped to resume on Wednesday.
As of yet the victim has only been identified as a "male." This is the second fatal accident on the infamous Elk Range 14er. Twenty-five-year-old Jake Lord was killed in mid-July when a boulder he was clinging to broke free, causing him to fall several hundred feet.
Though accidents on the Knife Edge are rare, this particular section has been the site of several fatal accidents in the past. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the victim.
RELATED HEADLINES
-Climber Killed on Capitol Peak (7/20/2017)
-Climber Dies on Capitol Peak (7/21/2013)
-Summary and Analysis of 14er Deaths This Decade (2010-2016)
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