Overview
- San Miguel County search-and-rescue teams responded to a Garmin SOS on Monday after a 31-year-old Grand Junction man reported a 150–200 foot BASE-jump fall and a suspected broken leg.
- About 20 rescuers from San Miguel and San Juan counties deployed motorcycles, UTVs and hiking teams into Columbine Basin and a Care Flight helicopter staged at roughly 13,000 feet, keeping teams in the field for many hours.
- When ground crews reached the site they found the jumper walking, he declined helicopter evacuation and later descended on foot with a friend while rescuers monitored his exit.
- Sheriff Dan Covault sharply rebuked the man for diverting paid and volunteer resources and noted the jumper previously required a major international rescue that involved multiple helicopters and high air-evacuation costs.
- The incident highlights how personal SOS devices trigger rapid, resource-heavy responses, raises questions about individual accountability for risky recreation, and underscores the operational risk and financial pressure on largely volunteer SAR units.