Missing Hiker - Hesperus Mnt - 6/24/2023

Threads related to Colorado mountaineering accidents but please keep it civil and respectful. Friends and relatives of fallen climbers will be reading these posts.
Forum rules
Please be respectful when posting - family and friends of fallen climbers might be reading this forum.
User avatar
Jorts
Posts: 1232
Joined: 4/12/2013
14ers: 58  4  2 
13ers: 122 22 5
Trip Reports (13)
 

Re: Missing Hiker - Hesperus Mnt - 6/24/2023

Post by Jorts »

Boggy B wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 5:10 pm Too bad they didn't rule out that highly unlikely lead immediately.

Was he taking the SW slopes/W ridge? Sentinel showed mostly avoidable patches of snow on the 23rd.
In that case, and assuming he didn't try to traverse over to Lavender (also unlikely given the late summit), then Owens Basin and downstream seems like the place to search.

In addition to the broken terrain in the timber below the SW slopes, navigating back to Echo in the dark could be tricky since you have to cross the creek and climb back up to your starting point.
Which spur of 566 were they camped on? 566 A appears to connect via trail to the Owens Basin Trail (does it? is there a bridge? is the junction signed?), but we always camped on 566 G and took the defunct road (which only shows up completely on the FS 2013 map) around the north end of Jackson Ridge.
That trail dies and you have to bushwhack down to and across the creek (dicey in spring) to link up with the Owens trail. In the dark/without GPS it would be tough to navigate on return and impossible without a light.
Sounds like you should have been consulted on this search.

Unfortunate outcome but glad friends and family have closure.
Traveling light is the only way to fly.
IG: @colorado_invasive
Strava: Brent Herring
User avatar
Boggy B
Posts: 862
Joined: 10/14/2009
14ers: 58  7 
13ers: 781 76
Trip Reports (49)
 

Re: Missing Hiker - Hesperus Mnt - 6/24/2023

Post by Boggy B »

My understanding is that someone involved in the search predicted this outcome, and that they did search the (South Fork) creek from its head in Owens all the way down to the confluence. I'm not even clear on which tributary it was or if he was found below the confluence, since there are a number of creeks feeding the W Mancos in the vicinity of the Echo Basin trailheads.
User avatar
14erFred
Posts: 1061
Joined: 7/15/2009
14ers: 51 
13ers: 1
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Missing Hiker - Hesperus Mnt - 6/24/2023

Post by 14erFred »

Prayers for comfort and strength for Ian’s family and friends. May he rest in peace forever, and may his memory always be a blessing.
"Live as on a mountain." -- Marcus Aurelius