Teen rescued from Tucumcari Mountain

Emergency workers rescued a Tucumcari teenager Monday afternoon from a narrow ledge on the face of Tucumcari Mountain.

Police, Farmers Electric Coop employees and a member of a local fire department reached the teenager, who was stranded about midway up the 700-foot landmark south of the city, about 3:45 p.m.

It was not immediately clear how long Alex Jauck, 14, had been stranded.

"I am grateful for all that helped rescue Alex, especially, Farmers Electric Company for having the ropes to be used to reach him," said Robert Lankford, Alex's step-father, at the rescue scene.

Aimee Jauck said her son told her he was going to stay the night with his friend and left the house about 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Alex usually called home at least every three hours to check in, said Lankford. When they hadn't heard from Alex, they called the sheriff's department Monday morning.

Quay County Sheriff Joe Schallert said he was notified 10 a.m. Monday by central dispatch about a teen stranded on Tucumcari Mountain. The caller did not provide a specific location.

After he and undersheriff Larry Cooksey were unable to spot the teen, Schallert called for a search and rescue unit.

After Jauck was located with the help of a bicyclist on the mountain, a climber repelled down the face of the mountain to the teen, who was huddled on a small ledge. The climber brought the team down from the mountain.

Jauck was transported about 4:15 p.m. to Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari.

His condition is not known at this time.