On Sunday July 16, 2023, at approximately 10:17 a.m., the Boulder County Communications Center was notified of a backpacker who was nauseated, vomiting, and dehydrated in the area of Jasper Lake, west of Eldora with access from the Hessie Trailhead.

The 18-year-old female was on an overnight backpacking trip with her mom and their dog when she began to experience abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Additionally, the dog had sustained an injury to its leg. As a result of her illness and the injured dog, the hikers did not believe they could make it back to the trailhead. This prompted them to activate the SOS function on their GPS unit, which resulted in rescuers being called to assist.

A helicopter from Flight for Life Colorado was used to fly rescuers and paramedics from Rocky Mountain Rescue Group to Jasper Lake so they could locate and assess the sick hiker. In addition to the few rescuers flown in by helicopter, rescuers from Nederland Fire Protection District, U.S. Forest Service, and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group drove part of the way in towards Jasper Lake with Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV’s) and then began hiking the remaining distance in case an evacuation was needed. Rescuers located the family and provided care in the field. Rescuers were able to assist the hikers and the dog with walking down the trail to the UTV’s. The hikers were then loaded in the UTV and driven out to their vehicle. The family declined further medical care.

Agencies assisting with this rescue effort included: the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Nederland Fire Protection District, United States Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, and Flight for Life Colorado.

The associated Boulder County Sheriff’s Office case number is: #23-3859.