Search and rescue teams were able to successfully recover the body of Madeline Baharlou- Quivey from Kit Carson Peak on Oct. 16.

The recovery mission took place in the area below a section of trail called “The Avenue,” which is part of the standard class three Kit Carson summit route. This area of the mountain is quite technical, with recovery crews working in class five terrain where a high potential of rockfall is present. Because of this risk, it was requested that hikers and climbers stayed off the mountain until the mission was complete.

Baharlou- Quivey, 29, went missing on Oct. 11 when she got off route and encountered severe winter weather conditions during a climb in the area of Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point — two points above 14,000 feet in Colorado. While Baharlou- Quivey was able to get her GPS coordinates out to a friend, who subsequently relayed them to search and rescue teams, severe weather complicated and delayed the search. Baharlou- Quivey was reportedly equipped with winter clothing, a bivy sack, and extra supplies at the time, but on Oct. 13, crews were able to determine that she had died in a fall from the technical terrain.

Crews attempted a helicopter recovery on Oct. 13, but this was deemed to be too unsafe due to the proximity of a vertical rock wall. Crews then attempted to hike to her body for a recovery, though nightfall turned them back, delaying the recovery until Oct. 16.

Search and rescue teams from Alamosa and Saguache counties, Colorado Division of Fire Control and Prevention and Cañon Helitak assisted.