Found Deceased CO - Joy Cipoletti, 60, hiking Zapata Falls, Ellingwood Point, 10 Oct 2020

[zecats]

RIP Joy.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Condolences to her family and friends.

 

[rainynights]

The Cipoletti Family has shared the following message with the Alamosa Sheriff’s Office. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that the Cipoletti family says goodbye to our amazing Joy, who we love beyond words.

Joy's strength and love of life impacted everyone who knew her. She played a deeply caring, active role in the lives of her three children, parents, three sisters and four brothers. As an avid hiker and outdoor adventurer, nature was Joy's happy place. She shared this love of the Colorado outdoors with many people in her life.

Our hearts are broken by this sudden loss of our dear Joy.

Our family would like to thank the Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue, the Alamosa County Sheriff's Department and the dozens of other amazing search and rescue volunteers and professionals who dedicated their time and expertise to search for and eventually find Joy. We can't begin to show our appreciation and gratitude for how you searched for our Joy with the determination and care that you would show as if she were a member of your family. You are heroes to us and we are forever grateful to each and every one of you.”

Alamosa County Sheriff's Office

 

[ZhaZhaHa]

so sad. Reading that summit review I guess I understand. So sorry for her family

 

[ZhaZhaHa]

Description from a hiker who has done the trail to the peak. Perhaps she was hiking only from the falls to the lake. The rest sounds like a much longer and very challenging choice. IMO

Blanca Peak and Ellingwood Point via Zapata Falls Trail

"Hiked this trail 7/17 (it was my 7th 14ers in 2 weeks) and probably my less favorite 14ers. (very very challenging) Started at 6am with a nice sunrise and happy to start the hike, the first 3 miles are somewhat through a forest and shaded especially at 6am, it was nice and cool. You do start the elevation gain from the start of the trail. so by the time you get to Zapata Lake, you are almost at 5 miles into the hike and have gain 3500ft + elevation gain. To me that was somewhat an easy walk/portion of the hike. Lake is very pretty to see and if you are a family or someone not as active, I would recommend to make the lake you final stop for this hike and return to the car. It took me about 2.5h to hike to the lake (about 5 miles, so your round trip would be about 10h from the start to TH to lake and back to car) If you choose to continue, please be VERY VERY prepared, the next portion is NOT a joke. If you have children less than 15 years old. do NOT do this trail. If you have a dog who isn't good with rock climbing, do NOT do this trail. From the lake to the top of Ellingwood, it's about only 2 miles. Warning, it's almost 3000 ft gain elevation in those 2 miles. Which mean you are climbing almost at vertical at time. "

The rest of that review, my gosh. That hiker says they started down the wrong way and spotted another man who had been about an hour ahead of him. They only found their way back because the biker had a satellite trail map running. How scary.

 

[Blueberry2720]

Body of missing Colorado Springs hiker found near Alamosa | FOX21 News Colorado

Updated article. Apparently she fell. Snipped for focus:

"On Thursday, the crew of a Blackhawk helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base spotted a red backpack that belonged to Cipoletti. A drone team from Park County Search and Rescue was dispatched to the area and located Cipoletti’s body, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office said “it was evident upon arrival that Joy had fallen a great distance.” Her body was taken to a landing zone and recovered from the mountainside by Flight For Life."

 

[Auntie_Seagull]

Rest in peace, Joy.