Mountain Rescue Aspen proposes new HQ

ASPEN — Mountain Rescue Aspen has proposed construction of a new headquarters of about 12,500 square feet on the outskirts of Aspen, allowing the all-volunteer organization to move out of a cabin on Main Street, which the group says it has long outgrown.

A development application submitted to Pitkin County on Friday depicts a two-story building, about half of which is devoted to garage space, and an attached training tower containing a climbing wall.

The building would replace the small cabin where members can't all fit in the team meeting room and a fleet of rescue vehicles, including three trucks, snowmobiles, ATVs and trailers can't all be accommodated.

“We outgrew it 20 years ago,” said Jeff Edelson, Mountain Rescue director of operations.

The headquarters would be near the airport, which would aid in some of the high country rescues.

Mountain Rescue has operated out of its cabin since its founding in 1965 with about 16 local mountaineers. Now, the organization has about 50 volunteers.

Read more about the organization and its proposed building.