The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office announced the recovery of a deceased hiker, Russell Hardy, who had gone missing near the summit of Pikes Peak. In a highly coordinated effort that involved numerous agencies, the use of a high-angle helicopter hoist was necessary due to the treacherous terrain, which made foot recovery too dangerous.
Reported missing since last Friday, Mr. Hardy's case prompted an extensive search. The collaboration between local law enforcement, the Army Reserve 7-158th General Support Aviation Battalion, and the El Paso County Search and Rescue culminated in this mission to retrieve his remains from an inaccessible area on the northeast side of the peak. According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Joseph Roybal expressed his gratitude for the support from federal, state, and local organizations in the search efforts, recognizing the dedication of the entire team to bring closure to the victim's family.
"I’m grateful for the strong partnerships my Office maintains with federal, state, and local agencies," Sheriff Roybal said, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. "Over the last few days, my deputies, Teller County deputies, Search and Rescue personnel from both counties, and hundreds of volunteers worked tirelessly to locate Mr. Hardy and bring answers to his loved ones."
Chris Valentine, Public Information Officer for El Paso County Search and Rescue, acknowledged the 11th ECAB's prompt response and readiness to assist in the recovery, which provided the appropriate resources needed for a mission of this scale. "We hope today’s recovery offers Mr. Hardy’s family the opportunity to begin healing. It was a privilege to serve them during this difficult time," Valentine commented, as obtained by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
