Helicopter crew retrieves climber's body near Pyramid

A mountain recovery team fished a man's body from the Thunder Pyramid Peak area Wednesday morning.

David Morano, 41, an accountant from Dillon, fell between 200 and 300 feet Saturday from a ridge near 13,832-foot Thunder Pyramid Peak, about a mile south of 14,018-foot Pyramid Peak.

Pitkin County sheriff's deputies said Morano was climbing at least two of the peaks in the area. After he fell over the eastern side of the edge, Morano's climbing partner and neighbor reportedly attempted to save him before calling authorities.

A two-person team from Mountain Rescue Aspen flew into the rugged region Wednesday morning. A sheriff's deputy said that the helicopter positioned the crew about 50 feet above Morano's body, where they were able to lift him out using a 150-foot cable.

The recovery team transported Morano's body to T-Lazy Seven Ranch, which was used as a landing zone for the mission.

An investigation into the death remains ongoing. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

"Thus far, there is nothing to suggest that this was anything more than an accident," Pitkin County sheriff's deputy Alex Burchetta told Real Aspen.

Morano leaves behind a wife and 8-year-old child.

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River Name / Location	Stream flow, ft3/s	Gage height ft
Gore Creek
At Upper Station, Near I-70 Twin Bridges	n/a	5 ft
Booth Creek	n/a	4 ft
Abv Red Sandstone Creek At Vail	199	6 ft
At Mouth Near Minturn	231	7 ft
Beaver Creek
At Avon	21	2 ft
Lake Creek
Near Edwards	79	1 ft
Cross Creek
Near Minturn	97	4 ft
Homestake Creek
At Gold Park	127	5 ft
Eagle River
East Fork Eagle River Near Climax	n/a	2 ft
At Red Cliff	30	3 ft
Near Minturn	231	4 ft
Wastewater Treatment Plant At Avon	671	5 ft
Below Gypsum	799	5 ft
Colorado River
Near Kremmling	396	4 ft
Near Dotsero	1,620	3 ft
Below Glenwood Springs	3,200	5 ft
Near Cameo	3,650	6 ft
Below Grand Valley Div Nr Palisade	2,200	5 ft
Near Colorado-utah State Line	4,080	4 ft
Near Cisco, Ut	4,160	3 ft
At Lees Ferry, Az	12,200	9 ft
Near Grand Canyon, Az	11,700	8 ft
Yuma Main Canal Ww At Yuma, Az	997	10 ft
Roaring Fork River
Abv Lost Man Cr Near Aspen	n/a	n/a ft
Ab Difficult C Nr Aspen	53	1 ft
Near Aspen	77	1 ft
Near Emma	464	6 ft
At Glenwood Springs	1,150	3 ft
Hunter Creek
Near Aspen	59	2 ft
At Aspen	49	4 ft
Frying Pan River
Near Ruedi	111	2 ft
Crystal River
Abv Avalanche Crk, Near Redstone	628	2 ft
Arkansas River
Ef Arkansas R At Us Highway 24, Nr Leadville	47	3 ft
Near Leadville	84	5 ft
Below Empire Gulch Near Malta	156	3 ft
Below Granite	453	4 ft
Near Nathrop	451	4 ft
At Parkdale	469	3 ft