Hiker plunges nearly 800 feet to death on treacherous mountain, Colorado sheriff says

A 25-year-old man hiking with friends near Silverton fell 600 to 800 feet to his death on the Fourth of July, Colorado officials say.

The Cookeville, Tennessee, man fell from the ridgeline of Snowdon Peak, the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management said in a July 6 news release.

A 911 call reported the fall to the sheriff’s office around 4 p.m. Thursday, July 4, officials said.

A rescue team ferried to the mountain by helicopter pronounced the fallen hiker dead at 5:54 p.m., officials said. The man’s body was recovered the next morning because of darkness.

“The mountains are dangerous. If you are coming to the San Juans to recreate, you really need to have a strong skill set and understand the risks you are putting yourself in,” Sheriff Bruce Conrad said in the release.

He described the peak 11 miles southwest of Silverton as “not that difficult” and said the hikers did not do anything wrong.

“But one missed step can be your last one,” Conrad warned.

Deputy Sheriff Adam Clifton said loose rock on the mountains can be especially treacherous.

“I am just so sorry that they lost their son this way. It is really hard to deal with this type of loss and I give my condolences to the family,” Clifton said in the release.

Snowdon Peak rises 13,077 feet in the San Juan Range, according to Summit Post.

Silverton is about a 355-mile drive southwest from Denver.

This story was originally published July 7, 2024 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Hiker plunges nearly 800 feet to death on treacherous mountain, Colorado sheriff says."