Today, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Army Reserve 7-158th General Support Aviation Battalion and El Paso County Search and Rescue, carried out a high-angle helicopter hoist recovery on the northeast side of Pikes Peak.
During the mission, the remains of Mr. Russell Hardy, a hiker from New Hampshire who was reported missing on June 13, 2025, were successfully recovered.
The operation was coordinated after it became clear our Search and Rescue teams could not access Mr. Hardy’s location on foot without a significant safety risk.
“I’m grateful for the strong partnerships my Office maintains with federal, state, and local agencies,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “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.
“Today’s success reflects the skill, courage, and dedication to public safety demonstrated by every team member involved.”
“We appreciate the collaboration with the Sheriff’s Offices in El Paso and Teller Counties and Teller County Search and Rescue on this difficult search and recovery mission,” said Chris Valentine, Public Information Officer for El Paso County Search and Rescue. “We also want to share our appreciation for the 11th ECAB for being ready, relevant, and responsive to local authorities’ requests for assistance, ensuring the most appropriate asset was available for the recovery – reducing the significant risk to volunteer rescuers that a ground evacuation would have encountered.
“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.”
“At the request of local authorities, Army Reserve aviation assets from Charlie Company, 7–158th General Support Aviation Battalion supported a recovery operation on Pikes Peak,” stated Captain Britney Tingstrom, 11th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Officer. “The mission was conducted in coordination with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and El Paso County Search and Rescue to assist in the safe retrieval of a deceased individual from a remote location.
“The safety of all personnel involved in the operation remains a top priority throughout the mission.”
Mr. Hardy’s remains were transferred to the El Paso County Coroner’s Office. In the coming weeks, they will confirm his identity and provide updates as to his cause of death.