Wednesday, 9 a.m.: A Summit School District staff member who spent 25 years teaching at Summit High School has been identified as the climber who fell and died near Officers Gulch.

Summit County Coroner Amber Flenniken confirmed Rick Karden was pronounced dead Tuesday, July 29, after the Summit County Sheriff’s Office said he fell while climbing a route called “Hasta la Vista Amichi.”

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we have learned about the passing of Rick Karden, a valued member of our school community, who died today in a tragic rock climbing incident,” stated a letter signed by Summit School District Superintendent Tony Byrd and Summit High School co-Principals Brittny Acres and Doug Blake. “His dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to education have left a lasting impact on our schools and the broader community. Karden was more than a colleague — he was a friend, a mentor, and a champion for students. He will be deeply missed.”

The district will be opening Summit High School to assist anyone grieving from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, July 31. Staff from Building Hope and Summit School District will be available at the school Thursday for students and staff.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Karden family, Rick’s friends, and all who were fortunate to know and work with them,” stated the letter.

Tuesday, 4 p.m.: One climber died while climbing the “Hasta la Vista Amichi” route near Officers Gulch on Tuesday, July 29, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies and Summit County Rescue Group members responded to a call around 11 a.m. A three-person climbing party was ascending when one of the climbers, carrying most of the group’s gear, fell, leaving the other two stranded.

A Sheriff’s Office news release stated the climber who fell was pronounced dead at the scene, but rescuers successfully evacuated the other two climbers.

Deputies and Summit County Rescue Group members recovered the deceased climber’s body and transferred it to the Summit County coroner. 

Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons called the incident “a tragic loss” in a quote from the release.

“Our hearts are with the climber’s family and loved ones,” FitzSimons said. “I’m grateful to our deputies and the Summit County Rescue Group for safely evacuating the surviving climbers and recovering the victim.”

Tuesday, 1:45 p.m.: The Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Summit County Rescue Group are working on a “technical rescue operation” in the Officers Gulch area, according to a Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.

The post asks the public to recreate elsewhere while responders complete their work.

Sheriff’s Office Lt. Mike Schilling wrote in a message to Summit Daily that the search is not related to Sean Marquardt, a Vail resident who went missing in May and was thought to have been in the Officers Gulch area.

Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information is gathered.