Denver woman dies after 900-foot fall while hiking Capitol Peak

Fresh snow on Capitol Peak seen on Oct. 2, 2021, outside Aspen. (Hugh Carey/The Colorado Sun)
Capitol Peak is 14,137-foot mountain in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

A Denver woman died Saturday morning after falling roughly 900 feet while making a solo ascent of Capitol Peak near Aspen.

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office said the fall happened at about 8 a.m. and was witnessed by another person hiking in the area. The woman fell after a handhold — a rock she was attempting to grab onto — gave way, authorities said.

The woman’s body was recovered by a search and rescue team on Monday afternoon.

Capitol Peak is 14,137-foot mountain in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. It’s a difficult mountain to climb and other people have died on it before.