Texas Man Falls to His Death During Climbing Trip in Washington State

Authorities in Washington state say a Texas man fell to his death during a climbing trip with his son, earlier this week.

According to a statement from the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, Dallas resident Robert Jake Colburn, 60, died last week after it appeared he slipped and fell several hundred feet while descending Aasgard Pass, located about 15 miles souht of Leavenworth. He was last seen around 3 p.m. on Thursday as he descended Aasgard, one of the most difficult hikes in the state, KING5 news reported.

When Colburn failed to arrive at base camp later that night, Colburn's son contacted authorities on Thursday night just before 11 p.m. to report his father had not returned after climbing the mountain pass. The Pass is one of two routes hikers can take into what's called "The Enchantments," which are a series of mountain lakes.

"Achieving the pass is a thigh-burning, chest-bursting, eye-popping endeavor that offers as many extraordinary views as beads of sweat that will fall from your brow as you ascend nearly 2,000 feet in just three-quarters of a mile," as the Washington Trails Association describes the pass.

The 60-year-old experienced hiker was descending the pass with three other people when he got ahead of the group and began hiking alone, according to Jerome Moore, a patrol sergeant with the Chelan County Sheriff's Office.

Four members of the Chelan County Mountain Rescue team searched the area of Aasgard's pass where Colburn was last seen around 3 p.m. Thursday. A helicopter assisting in the search spotted Colburn's body around 1:30 p.m. around the 7,300-foot elevation level on the mountain pass. Colburn was declared dead at the scene.

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