Two hikers have been found dead in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Boulder County, Colorado after being reported missing.
In two separate instances, two men were reported missing by their families when neither man returned from their outdoor expeditions.
The First Victim
On Monday evening search teams found the body of a 36-year-old man, believed to be one of the missing hikers.
The man was hiking in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in the Lake Isabelle area when he went missing.
Reported Missing
The man, who is yet to be named, was reported missing when his family did not hear from him, and he failed to return home on Monday morning.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services conducted a thorough search of the area after the man’s vehicle was found in the Brainard Lake parking lot.
The Search is On
The effort included ground searchers, dog teams and air support from a helicopter.
The search was based on the reported movements of the man by the man’s family, and information from his Garmin GPS device.
Difficult Terrain
On Monday morning the man’s body was discovered but it was unable to be moved at the time.
Due to the terrain and remote location, the body was unable to be recovered until Tuesday morning. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said that the nature of the death is not believed to be suspicious.
A Second Victim
On Saturday, a second man’s body was found in the same Indian Peaks Wilderness in the Middle St. Vrain trailhead.
The 67-year-old hiker was camping and reported missing on Thursday when his family began to worry when he did not call or return home.
Another Search
The man’s vehicle was found in Middle St. Vrain trailhead parking lot.
A dog’s team was utilized for the search which led to the discovery of the man’s body on Saturday afternoon.
Rocky Landscape
The discovery of the body led search teams to a rocky landscape near the trail, Boulder County Sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office said the man, whose name is yet to be released, is not believed to have died in suspicious circumstances.
Other Incidents Reported in the Area
These tragic incidents follow another hiking death reported just last month when a 21-year-old man died in Dolores County, Colorado when he fell 800-feet from a mountain ridge, according to the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office.
Earlier in the month, a missing woman was found after four days when she went exploring Lone Cone, Colorado on a solo hike.
Simple Measures You Can Take To Prepare for a Hike
Simple but effective measures you can take to stay safe when you hike include: Planning your route ahead, checking the weather in advance, and staying on the route.
Always make sure that a responsible friend or family member knows the details of your route. Including when you leave, what route you intend to take, and when you intend to return.
Experts also encourage hikers to be prepared to turn around if the circumstances become more difficult.
