A hiker who slipped and fell 600 to 800 feet to his death Thursday on Snowdon Peak has been identified as Jesse Filoteo, 25, of Cookeville, Tennessee, said San Juan County Coroner Keri Metzler.
Filoteo was with a group of six people who started up the trail at Andrews Lake, 11 miles south of Silverton on Thursday morning.
According to Filoteo’s LinkedIn profile, he was a former graphic designer at MARQ Labs before becoming a trail crew member with the Appalachian Conservation Corps.
The San Juan County Office of Emergency Management did not have any further information regarding the incident on Tuesday. Snowdon Peak reaches 13,000 feet in elevation and is considered a relatively tame hike.
San Juan County spokeswoman DeAnne Gallegos called the incident a “freak accident” and out of character for that specific trail. The fall was reported just after 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Silverton Rescue members along with Flight For Life medics responded via helicopter and made contact with the party about 5:45 p.m., at which time Filoteo was declared dead.
“My condolences go out to the family, friends and co-workers of this young man,” Metzler said.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
