Crestone Needle | Fourteener Rescue | Making Dangerous Things Look Easy | Blackhawks in Action

The Colorado Hoist Rescue Team is a partnership between the Colorado Army National Guard and four search and rescue teams throughout the state. Together, they conduct rescues in the most difficult to reach places in Colorado.
In Sept. 2020, they were called to a rescue on one of Colorado's most famous and dangerous peaks, Crestone Needle, of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. With a height of 14,203 feet, the elevation, weather, and terrain make rescues of any kind especially dangerous.
This video shows the complete story... starting with the two climbers that called for help all the way through the aftermath of the rescue which awarded the crew the prestigious DUSTOFF award.
Army Aviation Units:
High-Altitude Army National Guard Training Site | Colorado Army Aviation Support Facility
Search and Rescue:
Alpine Rescue Team | Vail Mountain Rescue Group | Rocky Mountain Rescue Group | Mountain Rescue Aspen | Colorado Search & Rescue
0:00 Intro
0:48 Finding a climbing partner online
1:56 "It's hard to trust your life with a stranger"
2:39 Overview of Ellingwood Ledges
3:28 Leading up to the fall/ the fall itself
5:39 Where do we go from here?
8:01 Search and Rescue receives call
8:59 The Pilot receives the call
10:17 Crew Chief looks at mission requirements
10:56 Rescue Techs pack their bags
12:12 Flying out to the Mountain
13:14 First Pass of Climbers
15:48 Taking a step back to evaluate the situation
17:15 Getting approval for a dangerous mission/ Beginning the rescue
19:26 First Rescue
23:47 Second Rescue
26:13 The Aftermath
27:52 Where do we go from here?
#CrestoneNeedle #colorado #searchandrescue #rockclimbing #armyaviation #armynationalguard #fourteener #14ers #14er #blackhawk #uh60
Video by U.S. Army Capt. Remington Henderson
Special Thanks to:
SSG Ray Rivera
Joe King
KDVR
KCNC-TV
KRDO
Channel 9
** Music by Secession Studios **
Agoraphobia - Augmentations
Imaginarium - Where Dreams Begin
Persecution - The Untold
Fables - The Untold II
The World Burns Around Us - Entering Light
Bionic Awakening - Augmentations
Kinetic Outbreak - Augmentations
To Boldly Go - Legendary
Bold and Brave - Heart of Darkness
The Untold - The Untold
Vindication - The Untold
Farewell Light - Entering Light
The full uncut GoPro rescue footage can be found here:
• Alpine Rescue Team Hoi...
And here:
• Crestone Needle 19 Sep...
Also, the one-wheel landing clip of Maroon Bells can be found here:
• 130921 North Maroon Be...
Nederland International Film Festival - Best Short Documentary
Advertisements are not official endorsements by the Colorado National Guard, The music rights holder may have chosen to place ads on it. KZbin may also place ads on videos in channels not in the KZbin Partner Program.

[@TheChip4]

“If you’re going to do really dangerous things, you have to be really good at doing them.” Love it

[@SoldierStories1860]

My favorite quote too!

[@douglassmith2946]

My family was rescued by these guys in August of 2018. They have got to be the best in the world. So grateful for Vail Mountain Rescue. Truly life saving, extremely skilled and selfless people!!!!!! They literally save my daughter's life. She would not have survived another 24 hours and she is the mother of 3. Helicopter rescue.

[@Jscaff859]

All rescue group are good at what they do glad everyone is safe from these hero's.

[@NaturesEscapes]

What’s remarkable is that they do these missions for those that are alive and for those loved ones who are recovered. My father in-law was recovered in Aug 2006 on the Crestone Needles/Crestone peak area after he fell. We know he made summit on one of them because we were able to recover his sd card from his camera and he had a selfie. He always did when he climbed a 14er. Thank you for risking your lives to get our loved ones back home and for treating each one the same.

[@thegamingwarlord6073]

This is a downright beautiful documentary that showcases the vulnerable human element behind missions like this that most people never get to see. The average person only gets a glimpse of what missions like these are like through watered-down, glamoured-up news reports that they see on TV. Hats off to this SAR team for successfully carrying out such a difficult mission, and to CPT Henderson for putting this documentary together.

[@SoldierStories1860]

Thank you!

[@ihavenoideawhatimdoing6124]

When my dad and I climbed the needle we ran into a group that had spent the night on the mountain after climbing the arette. They didn't need rescue, they just knew it would take a long time and brought a lightweight tent with them. The area they camped was, like where the rescue happened, a dinner table sized ledge with 1000ft drop on both sides. Something to know about the rock on the Crestones is that its a double edged sword. The rock is extremely solid and stable, the best climbing rock I've ever seen in my life. It also doesn't have many cracks on it making gear placement impossible in most places. Also these guys were so lucky that they had cell service to call for rescue, most of these mountains don't.

[@Jordan__Sloan]

Somebody took a tent up the needle!!???

[@jackieagd7722]

No kidding. I don’t have cell service in the town of Crestone.

[@georgesheffield1580]

Tied in overnight due to wind roster in Nov. Wind stopped finished the Needle and the traverse to the peak then to Kit Carson and down to the town of Crestone for beer .

[@NathanJones-sf5js]

The description of their rescue plan around 16 minutes in is some of the most fascinating stuff I’ve learned in a while. The amount of nimble intelligence it takes to pull something like this off is astonishing.

[@Ryanmathewsc]

So easy to take for granted how much goes into a rescue operation. Wonderful glimpse into that world.

[@drewzanoff6615]

Just one of the many amazing rescues that the Colorado Army National Guard flight crews preform that are based on Buckley and up at HAATS on Eagle Airport.

[@sjleflar]

Stellar production! Thank you for sharing our story!

[@donuttyme]

Incredible! Amazing what these aircrews and rescue teams can do! Thanks Colorado Army National Guard!

[@katiedeclet4012]

So impressive to get a better understanding of how skilled are Colorado Army National Guard pilots are! Such an honor to serve alongside them.

[@whistlepig]

What a story. I'm so grateful for the SAR folks who dedicate themselves to helping others. Real heroes.

[@ronaldbryant7994]

Must watch, captures the details that our crews routinely go though to make complicated things look easy, so proud of the men and women who put the hours in every day to safely execute life changing complex and dangerous things!

[@lieslh00]

Dang I watched eight minutes before I realized I was totally sucked in 😂 great story telling, it communicated the drama and fear of their experience and I appreciated the inclusion of climbing vocab explanations

[@Smirn]

An incredible production from Remington Henderson. Well done! Thank you for sharing our story!

[@remingtonhenderson6742]

Thank you, sir!

[@archascents5157]

@@remingtonhenderson6742 excellent production if you put this together!

[@remingtonhenderson6742]

@@archascents5157 I did, thank you!

[@SwimTillIDie]

What an amazing story. Kudos to those rescue techs and the national guard!

[@AlexWitkowicz]

Amazing footage here, and really interesting to see how this type of rescue happens. I’ve attempted Crestone Needle twice in the past few years, that mountain is the real deal!

[@greenlenny3926]

Climbers should always be prepared to stay the night. We don’t need to endanger SAR even more and have them use night vision goggles unless the climber is about to die. Thank you cheers -G Lenny from Denver

[@NathanJones-sf5js]

Hell I bring stuff for an overnighter even on long day hikes!

[@stephenkittle6586]

We are so LUCKY to have SICK ASS PILOTS who willing to help when needed !!

[@robertmoldovan5931]

I admire anyone who risk their life for another. This was an amazing rescue and the bravery these men have is amazing to me. Great job and glad everything went as so expertly planned during the rescue.

[@coloradomark2159]

This rescue blows me away. I sure don't know what better is. this rescue was a solid 10.

[@coloradohikertrash9958]

These men are REAL heroes. Knowing how passionate these people are about saving me or my loved ones if the worst should happen is really moving. If you do any kind of hiking or climbing you really can't thank these guys enough

[@musubipanda]

Wow this is truly amazing! Thank you for sharing this breathtaking story!

[@apachewhiteone]

Thank you CHRT and Colorado Army National Guard...just outstanding professionals!

[@billdone3162]

I had literal chills multiple times through this! Thanks for sharing!

[@SoldierStories1860]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Mrwhomeyou]

Not to shit on the guy but if you can climb back up to your highpoint, your climbing partner was right, should've rappel down instead of risking the rescuer.

[@brianconroy3311]

Captivating and inspiring story. Thanks for sharing.

[@SoldierStories1860]

Our pleasure!

[@renatasmith4463]

Thanking God for the entire SAR team & their amazing skills! SAR Motto: So that others may live!

[@altrujillo3566]

You guys are amazing!

[@anhton6869]

Great video! Thank you for creating and sharing this story!

[@quintus1903]

Great message on the brave things they do on a regular basis.

[@mazulauf]

That is crazy! Well done, y’all!

[@wcclyne]

Great story telling in this video, bravo Colorado National Guard!!

[@rothberg4334]

Great rescue mission. I’m glad they were able to get them off the needle despite all the complications from the aircraft.

[@charliebeatty4093]

Great video, CPT Henderson! Excellent job showing our Soldiers in action!

[@kendrahenderson4107]

Humbling to think of the great work they do!

[@MountainHobbler]

This was very well put together.

[@larsonb1012]

Thanks for sharing this story! So inspiring and so incredible all the training and work that goes into pulling one of these rescues off. Breathtaking the terrain they did this in! SO grateful this was a safe and successful rescue!

[@hamsterbob178]

Incredible feats matched with excellent cinematography!

[@davidschmidt7829]

Top shelf coverage, great story! Well done!!!

[@SoldierStories1860]

Thank you kindly!

[@gloriahenderson4325]

Very interesting and well told!!

[@tylorsoll6033]

Legends, absolute legends.

[@SamMartinez65]

Heroes in action!!! Well done sirs.

[@steveilg6134]

Gotta admit I’m conflicted. Yea,I’m 61 and from an era where we simply knew we had to self-rescue or die. No options available. Somewhat infamously, i fell 60’ off the Diamond (Longs Peak) during an attempted winter ascent and had a paralyzed spine, forced bivi in a winter storm and a several mile crawl out. I have raised my now 16 year-old daughter as a mountain athlete in the mold of my era. Seems like the more proficient and kickass modern rescues become, a psychological paradigm has shifted creating a new and ever growing demographic of less experienced outdoor/mountain “athletes” that just go for projects for which they may not be ready. They seem eased by the growing fact that, well? We can always call for a rescue. 🤷🏽‍♂🙏🏾💯🕉

[@landonleathers5936]

All that training down to one epic moment 🤘🤘

[@donaldhoffmann2576]

Great video work capturing an amazing story. This video shows all the critical links and relationships that go into a rescue operation and the complexity of making it all come together with limited time to plan and execute. Make sure you watch!

[@myraramirez3625]

I watched this video with my kids and we were all mesmerized with the amazing work, dedication, and sacrifice that all members have to do in order to continue to save lives! Thank you!

[@DH-kl3ob]

way to go guys!

[@_ShaDynasty]

Such a badass job.

[@CoreyMurphyMusic]

Great film

[@aroxchannel]

That was great. Climbing Ellingwood Arete was one of the best days of my life, but I can understand how it would be easy to get off route. The upper portion of the route is very complex.

[@davidnagel2715]

So proud of the efforts of our COARNG Aviation family! The courage, dedication to service, and willingness of our Troops and community partners (Alpine Rescue Team) to be there for our fellow citizens in distress is inspiring. Great documentary!

[@Blue-pb7kz]

This is fascinating. I remember that when I was a teenager, I was really into scuba diving, and found forums where people did accident analyses of diving incidents. I found those very informative when handled well, and it was interesting to learn about possible gear failures, how to respond to those, how accident happen in a chain of events, how different preparation, lack of physical preparation, or gear, or communication, or overlooked environmental conditions, or even how psychological factors can make a difference in outcomes. How decision making can be impaired in emergency situations, and how important it is therefore to think and plan for them ahead of time, so you already know what to do. Now I backpack a lot and I'm getting into climbing. I'm surprised at how few ressources I see like that - or maybe I'm not looking in the right place? But this documentary is very informative! Both for learning about how rescues work, but also from what lessons can be gleaned from the events. Thanks!

[@Slippindisc]

The army has tons of that kind of data on accidents and whatnot. Idk how you’d go about getting it but I doubt if you couldn’t get most of it

[@drrojas14]

Wow, that's epic

[@davidhamilton1446]

Interesting insight into not just this rescue but the bigger view of search and rescue operations. Thank you for the video and production. Dale's perspective was great. The pink tricam! Shredded space blanket, lol. But to see how much is put on the line for a questionable rescue!

[@HyperSarcasticAvocado]

What an inspiring and well-told story. Makes me want to push myself to do some form of volunteer search and resuce.

[@ovenbakeasian7745]

Awesome

[@russellrehak]

Holy F that's cool. I helped out with a chopper rescue on Princeton. Would love to be part of a chopper crew. Nice work boys!

[@ThinkingDigital_01]

Loved this. Wondering though what’s scarier, getting rescued off a mountain or getting the bill in the mail.

[@KCityFF]

Great video. It’s always great to see inside the lives of our soldiers. CPT Henderson is doing a great job with all of these video. Like a share please you won’t regret it.

[@TheRescueInstitute]

Great Story and Great Rescue. I love the Needle and Camping at the alpine Lake. 5 amazing 14'ers in one heavenly location. How do you find New Rescue Operators?

[@cameronstoneadams1183]

Sick Hoist. Brief the plan. Run the mission.

[@billyhanley7390]

Dale Atkins is my hero!

[@nonobegone2135]

Dudeeeee… literally just do some simple aid climbing an step up in some slings for one pitch of 5.6 and get out of there! I’ve led the arete twice, first time I was 18, (both times I’ve done the 5.9 variation from that ledge) and you’re ~ 200ft from the top at that point they got rescued! He was literally standing up when they got him. Cmon bruh…

[@robertwhite5125]

Hahaha I thought the same thing. Or just fucking rap and leave your whole rack in the wall at that point. Can guarantee it’s cheaper than the 14k hoist

[@Reed411]

@@robertwhite5125 Had the same thought! He had to have been more injured than he was letting on. If it's just one bum leg you can repel, it might be a little topsy turvy, but you'll get the job done. One splint and a long night later and you're out. The hoist could be upwards of 20k.

[@Jordan__Sloan]

So they don’t say what the actual injury was?

[@ProfessionalJerry]

Heroes. Badass

[@CapnJackBkup]

Absolutely wonderful and these dedicated people putting their lives on the line for those in need. I am wondering how much this costs and who pays for it. Are the rescued charged later? Thanks to these dedicated people!

[@remingtonhenderson6742]

There's another comment on here that I wrote in a bit more detail on the subject, but essentially, no they are not charged later. I can only speak for Colorado though. It might be a different story in other states in the U.S.

[@tonysheata1904]

This video is a small demonstration of some the unique capabilities the Colorado National Guard has to assist the state during times of need.

[@tylernero6671]

I got a helicopter rescue about 4 miles from there, 1 feel a 100 ft on challenger peak. The Crestones need to be taken very seriously.

[@spookyz3292]

Something is creepy about the way the main dude talks to the camera. Emotionless.

[@huntergta307]

Where do I apply to do this type of helicopter rescue work? I live in denver and have been thinking about the national gaurd but specifically what would get me and my dog in the mountains the most? (I don't mind hanging from a helicopter in that beautiful basin) as long as I can have a place for me and my pup with easy access to the mountains. (Denver traffic sucks) id be down! (Also that dude hanging from the helicopter dude your a legend!)

[@SoldierStories1860]

Hi! You can call or email us at the Colorado National Guard and we can talk to you more about the process on our end ([e-mail] or 720-250-1058). As for the rescue teams… we work with four teams in particular on the CHRT, but there are several more teams that focus more on ground search and rescue operations. Generally, each one has a website with information on applying/ interviews. I would recommend googling around to find the one closest to you and then contact them through their website.

[@ryanmiles8056]

Wonder what kind of bill these guys got stuck with. That’s a lot of moving parts and hazard.

[@OUTDOORSMAN_NJ]

“Call from our sar…. OIC” 😂

[@hueymurphy4518]

I can't believe two complete strangers would agree to put their lives in each other's hands... but I guess it comes with the territory.

[@Slippindisc]

So the guy wasn’t really hurt? He just climbed up and got scared?

[@SoldierStories1860]

Someone else made a similar comment above. I tried linking to my original reply but couldn't so below is a copy/ paste of that one for your reference. Also, not sure if you watched the video to the end, but the second half has the more exciting footage and also has a discussion on these concerns towards the end. /* Original Comment */ You are correct that Sam didn't sustain any permanent injuries, but he did have severe bruising on his back which made him incapable of continuing the climb to the top (which would've allowed for the option of an easier hike down the backside of the mountain). He recognized later on that he probably could've rappelled down and left in gear along the way. However, he was extremely psyched out and many of the rescue techs, pilots, and crew I talked to during the research portion of this video agreed that the rescue made sense for the situation. He would've been at an extreme risk for further injury on the trip down and he could've made the situation far worse if that happened. His partner, Tommy, mentioned in a portion of his interview (which didn't make the final cut) that he didn't know how hard he could push Sam considering their lack of history together. While this was not the most severe injury that the CHRT has rescued (and trust me they've picked up some people on the edge of death before) I still chose this story because I felt there were a lot of lessons to be learned all around. Learning one's limits is one critical takeaway, another is understanding the limits of your partner, and the third is understanding the limits of rescue teams. Dale, the tech interviewed in this video, told me one story from about 20 years ago where they had to lower a dead climber off of the same route on Crestone Needle. It took them over a week with rotating schedules of 20 rescue techs to bring down the fallen climber. That's the reality for a lot of causalities on the mountains where Blackhawks can't reach them. That said, we're fortunate in Colorado to have the CHRT, but climbers world-wide can learn that even these elite teams have their limits and they're not everywhere. On a good note, Sam learned from his mistakes. He continued to practice and went on several guided climbs with more experienced climbers and learned from them. The following summer successfully climbed Ellingwood Ledges. He didn't have any photos/ footage from that summit so I didn't include it in the final notes of the video.

[@robertwhite5125]

@@SoldierStories1860I can almost guarantee the reason the techs thought they made the right call is because they knew these guys didn’t know what they were doing at all. If it were in of the rescue techs in their position they wouldn’t even contemplate rappelling off.

[@stephenschultz9901]

I'm curious how the climbers contacted SAR considering there isn't any cell reception. Can someone shed some light for me?

[@SoldierStories1860]

There's no reception at the base of the mountain, but as you get higher you get better line of sight to cell towers.

[@thomasmontoya7279]

i think alex honnold passed them going up

[@sumo45069]

Anyone else catch him say "good cotton layers"? I found that odd for the environment

[@marklide3492]

Wait so the climber wasn’t injured? It seems like this team had the resources to get themselves down

[@SoldierStories1860]

You are correct that Sam didn't sustain any permanent injuries, but he did have severe bruising on his back which made him incapable of continuing the climb to the top (which would've allowed for the option of an easier hike down the backside of the mountain). He recognized later on that he probably could've rappelled down and left in gear along the way. However, he was extremely psyched out and many of the rescue techs, pilots, and crew I talked to during the research portion of this video agreed that the rescue made sense for the situation. He would've been at an extreme risk for further injury on the trip down and he could've made the situation far worse if that happened. His partner, Tommy, mentioned in a portion of his interview (which didn't make the final cut) that he didn't know how hard he could push Sam considering their lack of history together. While this was not the most severe injury that the CHRT has rescued (and trust me they've picked up some people on the edge of death before) I still chose this story because I felt there were a lot of lessons to be learned all around. Learning one's limits is one critical takeaway, another is understanding the limits of your partner, and the third is understanding the limits of rescue teams. Dale, the tech interviewed in this video, told me one story from about 20 years ago where they had to lower a dead climber off of the same route on Crestone Needle. It took them over a week with rotating schedules of 20 rescue techs to bring down the fallen climber. That's the reality for a lot of causalities on the mountains where Blackhawks can't reach them. That said, we're fortunate in Colorado to have the CHRT, but climbers world-wide can learn that even these elite teams have their limits and they're not everywhere. On a good note, Sam learned from his mistakes. He continued to practice and went on several guided climbs with more experienced climbers and learned from them. The following summer successfully climbed Ellingwood Ledges. He didn't have any photos/ footage from that summit so I didn't include it in the final notes of the video.

[@warpig79]

How much was the bill on this rescue?

[@SoldierStories1860]

The overall cost to the COARNG was zero dollars. The reason for this was twofold: 1) the rescue techs are %100 volunteers and 2) because rescue missions are done in conjunction with training funds. In other words, we are allotted a certain amount of money annually to fly so our pilots can maintain a high level of readiness. In the case of rescue missions, this works to our benefit because there are no better training scenarios than real world missions.

[@nonethelessfirst8519]

​@SoldierStories1860 so other words we paid for it. Us.

[@Jscaff859]

You guys need to carry flares for emergency and when stuck in a crevasse need something that will grab somebody's attention.

[@sraightupfl3xin]

With all due respect. Sam's take on climbing with randoms is a little ironic. It seems like he was the problem. Should have studied the route more.

[@UrMom-6942]

So others may live 🇺🇸

[@samrichardson2641]

Bruh the guy w the red tee needs to take a full step back from the camera.

[@remingtonhenderson6742]

Funny you mention that, but there is a reason he is cropped closer than the other interviews. Basically, he was framed identically when I filmed, but I didn’t notice that he was leaning to the side a bit. I rotated the image so it wasn’t as noticeable but it required me zooming in as well.

[@samrichardson2641]

@@remingtonhenderson6742 if he’d brush his teeth it wouldn’t have been as big of a deal

[@ChristopherbiggsWA]

If you are ever in washington state long ways from nowhere near the idaho panhandle and near the British Columbia border in the selkirk range. Pend oreille county. Ill buy you all a round of beers.

[@peekstr]

Good. Job. I'm assuming that's a Lima? Even so, 14K+ is a challenge no matter how you slice it. So - you're a new PC here in this environment - are you gonna curse your IP now because he was drilling PPC and bitchin' ya out about it all the time? THAT'S the value of total mastery of that sucker. Again - Good. Job. from a retired 60 SP - still flyin'!!!

[@bprLogos]

I don't understand why they needed rescued.

[@MrUrmother22]

Out fucking standing!!!

[@webbiefolife]

Comment

[@remingtonhenderson6742]

Thank you for your kind words lol

[@lieslh00]

@gabe well said 👏🏻

[@Shred_Tube]

that old guy is such a badass