An 18-year-old Colorado Springs man fell about 20 feet from a rock
formation in Garden of the Gods on Wednesday afternoon and suffered a
leg injury before firefighters rescued him.

Firefighters spent about two and a half hours bringing down the man as
they were hampered by wind gusts of 50 mph to 60 mph, said Colorado
Springs fire Lt. Brian Keys. He was taken to a hospital for treatment
and listed in stable condition, Keys said. The man's name wasn't
available.

The man was climbing with a 17-year-old friend a few minutes before 5
p.m. when he fell. Neither climber had proper climbing gear or had
registered with the Garden of the Gods Visitors Center, as the law
requires. Keys said the injured man's family told authorities he had
about a year of mostly-indoor climbing experience.

Twelve firefighters took part in the rescue effort. Both climbers live
in Colorado Springs and attend area high schools, Keys said.