Texas Man Killed in Fall on Aasgard Pass

A 60-year-old Dallas, Texas man died in a climbing accident Thursday on Aasgard Pass, approximately 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth.

The Chelan County Sheriff's Office provided details Friday night in a news release that Robert Jake Colburn likely slipped and fell several hundred feet while returning to camp.

Rich Magnussen, Chelan County Emergency Management said RIVERCOM Dispatch received a 911 call from Colburn’s son at approximately 11:00pm Thursday and advised dispatchers that his dad had not returned to camp after climbing Aasgard Pass.  Colburn was last seen around 3:00pm Thursday, descending Aasgard on his way back to camp.

Friday morning, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office helicopter was flown to the area to insert a team of four Chelan County Mountain Rescue personnel. At approximately 1:30pm, Colburn was located at approximately the 7,300-elevation level on Aasgard Pass.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  Magnussen said veteran members of the mountain rescue team described the conditions as some of the most icy they have seen for this time of the year.  The victim was hoisted into the helicopter and transported to the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery.  Members of Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue also assisted on the recovery.