Climber injured in fall in Alpine Lakes Wilderness area

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) — A 41-year-old climber has been hospitalized after falling in an area above Colchuck Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

The Chelan County sheriff's office says a rescue helicopter from Naval Air Base Whidbey Island hoisted James Adkins from the area around 1 a.m. Monday.

He was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he was in serious condition with head and leg injuries.

Hikers on Sunday night reported coming across an injured climber, who had fallen near an alpine area known as Colchuck Balanced Rock.

A locater beacon showed the climber man was at about 7,300 feet elevation and hikers could not reach him.

A helicopter was called in while a team on the ground also was organized.

The sheriff's office says it's unclear what caused him to fall.