FOUND!!! Missing Hiker - 8/23/24 Mount Shavano/Tebeguache

[Noesenamber]

Hiker has been found!!!!

Steve Stephanides
46 year old
White male
6’0 tall
Dark brown hair
Green/Hazel eyes
Black tee shirt
Thin athletic long sleeve
Black/grey pants
White baseball cap with a red F on the front
Red hiking pack

Last known location was on was on the saddle between MT. Shavano and Tebeguache.

[Kiefer]

Fingers crossed this has a positive outcome.

[daway8]

If search and rescue is involved then they will be very familiar already with the most common location to look: McCoy Gulch.

That's the classic trap many people have fallen for - looks like an easy descent route from above that would avoid regain of Shav but people cliff out nearly every time.

Hopefully he's merely stuck down there and can be safely extricated.

Of course could be something totally different but that's a very common SAR call to be received from that area...

[lauradaughtry]

If search and rescue is involved then they will be very familiar already with the most common location to look: McCoy Gulch.

That's the classic trap many people have fallen for - looks like an easy descent route from above that would avoid regain of Shav but people cliff out nearly every time.

Hopefully he's merely stuck down there and can be safely extricated.

Of course could be something totally different but that's a very common SAR call to be received from that area...

I came here to say just this. McCoy Gulch is most likely the culprit here. I hope he is found safe and sound.

Remember to tell your friends: if there were an easier route, it would be the standard route.

[Noesenamber]

Steve has been FOUND!!!

[IHikeLikeAGirl]

I am hoping the all caps and exclamation point means he was found alive. I realize that details cannot be released at this point.

Thank you SAR!

[onebyone]

If search and rescue is involved then they will be very familiar already with the most common location to look: McCoy Gulch.

That's the classic trap many people have fallen for - looks like an easy descent route from above that would avoid regain of Shav but people cliff out nearly every time.

Hopefully he's merely stuck down there and can be safely extricated.

Of course could be something totally different but that's a very common SAR call to be received from that area...

I came here to say just this. McCoy Gulch is most likely the culprit here. I hope he is found safe and sound.

Remember to tell your friends: if there were an easier route, it would be the standard route.

Yup. There is a reason why the way is to re summit Shavano. If there was an easier route then that would bet the way.

[ylingli]

Details cannot be disclosed at this time, but I wanted to send out an update because I know a lot of you care and are concerned when a hiker goes missing:

My SAR team was called out early this morning to assist with mutual aid with Chaffee County. A few hours ago, the hiker was found, extracted and transferred to EMS in stable condition.

[Gulf_Coast_Hiker]

Details cannot be disclosed at this time, but I wanted to send out an update because I know a lot of you care and are concerned when a hiker goes missing:

My SAR team was called out early this morning to assist with mutual aid with Chaffee County. A few hours ago, the hiker was found, extracted and transferred to EMS in stable condition.

Thanks much for the update!

[IHikeLikeAGirl]

Yes! Thank you so much for the update.

Many of the hikers on the trail today brought up Steve when my daughter and I stopped to exchange pleasantries. His unknown status had cast a somber tone to the day. I'm sure many are elated at this news. I know my daughter and I are!

Again, thank you to everyone who aided in his rescue!

[seannunn]

Glad to see good news on a thread like this for once.
And to repeat what others have said (not necessarily a commentary on this particular person): if there was an easier way down than the standard route, it would be the standard route.

Sean Nunn

[IHikeLikeAGirl]

Here's an article. Sounds like he wasn't trying to shortcut down, but got disoriented and lost....

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kktv.c ... utType=amp