Missing CO Hunters

[Bullshot]

Is it in the realm of possibility that these guys bit of more then they can chew? They came from out east to hunt without the basic and correct knowledge on land nav or survival. I don't want to start an influencer debate again but, did these guys watch YouTube videos and think it's easy? I'm curious if these guys had a map and compass. Or if they now how to read a map and compass. Were they solely relying on their phones for navigation? I know it sounds harsh but it's been a week and the chances of survival are slim at this point

I also come from the east and do it solo, have since I was 22. It is a lot to take in for someone not used to the scale and scope of the Rockies, but that is a long way from having the simultaneous loss of two young and healthy individuals. So it feels, to me, like there is much more to the story. Even the concerns about hypothermia.... as a young healthy person, even digging a hole, dragging a tree limb, doing jumping jacks can make you overheat in almost any weather. Cold and clammy yes, and that CAN ultimately become serious, but it was not yet winter conditions. It is almost inconceivable that both guys would not be able to build a shelter of some kind, jump around if needed, and hug all night if that's what it took to survive. I will be surprised it is is that simple. And simply getting lost is not fatal either, they did not starve to death or die of thirst. Having done what they were doing, many times, this sounds like the circumstances had to be a lot more strange and quickly serious. Still hoping for a good resolution somehow.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Don't minimize the threat of hypothermia. As a lifelong hunter, hiker, backpacker for over seven decades and all over western Montana, a climb up to Ishawoa Pass in the Thorofare created a wet, sweaty backpacker, then experiencing a sudden downpour, winds, and sharp temperature drop ... inducing some hypothermia as never before experienced. Fortunately I recognized the symptoms early as I struggled and failed to simply erect the small tent. Blessed to have a savvy hiking partner and life-mate in my wife (who had also previously splinted my broken knee with what the EMTs said was the best backcountry splint they'd seen), the quick change of clothes, warmth of sleeping bag and hot chocolate got my body and brain back to some semblance of normalcy. If hiking alone the outcome may have been much worse.
When you're stupid and foolish ... you gotta be tough and lucky ... with a savvy, caring trail mate!

If both hunters experienced hypothermia at the same time, incapacitation may have resulted in dire consequences. 'Hope they are hunkered down with a minor issue and found soon.

 

[An Elks Tear]

Yep, then left with just bows. Left packs in the vehicle. I'm curious what the pin between the car and camp was for.

I'm also concerned about foul play now. It has almost been a week. I figure they would've found something by now. That's a long time to be out there with just your bow.

So many variables just don’t add up. I rifle hunted the San Juan Range in 2023—fully guided, horseback in, deep into country that felt like the edge of the world.

First morning, just after I’d downed a bull, a hunter claiming to be a heart surgeon from Denver wandered into the meadow where we were quartering the carcass. He just appeared, as if conjured from the mist. The whole thing felt off. I sat on the kill while my guide worked, watching this stranger circle. He returned again the next morning, claiming that he’d hiked back in before dawn. Truth be told, it felt like he was waiting for a chance to swipe our game bags. The guides finally managed to send him packing, but the air stayed uneasy.

I wrote a book about what it takes to cross this terrain—the physical grind, the mental strain. Out there, you’re stripped down to who you really are.

These boys, the ones lost, seemed to have the wits to lean on technology for their safety net. Maybe chasing a bull led them to ditch supplies or cut corners. Out there, that’s a deadly game. Dehydration, altitude sickness, biting cold—they creep up when you’re not paying attention.

Our guides drilled one rule into us: Stay put.

They’d leave us alone just long enough for us to soak it all in, then circle back with lunch. They knew most folks ignored good advice. If we did get bold and wandered off, and found ourselves lost, they told us to find water—any creek or stream—and follow it downstream. Water always leads somewhere: a river, a road, a trail, another camp.

The car being moved an hour after it was spotted at the trailhead. That detail could swing either way. Out there, you don’t let on if you’ve seen anything. We played a kind of chess, doling out false leads about where we’d spotted elk, hoping to nudge other hunters away from our ground. Sometimes it worked—sometimes it just stirred the pot.

Lightning, a slip on a muddy slope, a rock loosed just wrong—those are the accidents I think of, the kind that can take two men out quick. But there’s another darkness that haunts these woods: shady strangers, bad intentions, a meeting gone wrong.

I hope those boys are found, safe and alive. Out there, you learn to expect the unexpected—but you never stop hoping for a good ending.

 

[Gellar]

hypothermia is a possibility. It affects people when they least expect it. You could get hypothermia in 60 degrees and a bit of breeze if you get wet. It’s still unlikely, but possible that it affects 2 people to the debilitating point.

 

[cohunter14]

It is now reported that they were spotted and hunting Friday midday now. I believe the theory of this was due to bad weather on Thursday so that rules that out now

I believe it was bad weather on Friday too. This was from elkduds post:

Mrs duds and I camped at a hot spring 20 miles northeast of this trailhead that Friday, on the other side of the very large San Luis Valley. Rain all day Friday, violent thunderstorms came in from the west beginning about 4 pm. Probably 2 inches of rain fell on us between 4 pm and midnight, when it stopped raining. Rain resumed 10 am Saturday morning at our location, continued all that day. IME, it would have been very stormy Friday day and night at the trailhead and surrounding areas.

 

[wytex]

They had wet clothes after Thursday, sounds like no rain gear and that does not bode well in cool rainy weather.
I hope they had some but if they got wet again , not good when temps were cool and I bet breezy.

2 inches of rain in the mountains is serious too, thinking rising streams and maybe minor flooding.

Still praying for these guys.

 

[lastlight]

Haven't read all the comments, but was there lightning in the area when the storms rolled in? Wife mentioned that as a possible explanation last night and that one actually fits.

It is now reported that they were spotted and hunting Friday midday now. I believe the theory of this was due to bad weather on Thursday so that rules that out now

Yes there was a ton of lighting both days. That’s my leading theory. Lighting can easily get two men standing within talking distance. So fn scary! I’ll take a grizzly and gorilla attack at the same time any day of the week over lighting storm on a ridge.

I had a bad storm closer to Durango one year that almost got me in my own tent with a 7ft stove pipe. I was a lighting rod and couldn’t move out in an insane storm.

 

[44hunter45]

Agreed but if it was foul play why would the perp not take their stuff?

Could be ideological violence. Certainly the sign of the times.
Have we reached the point where an anti would take extreme action?

 

[44hunter45]

At work if we work alone we're supposed to leave the tracking on from beginning of the day until we return. Also required to send a canned message between 12-1 pm saying were ok just checking in. Tracking can be set to send a location every so often, mine is set to 15 minutes I believe. We also carry sat phones at work as well. We have a very good check in/out policy at work and procedures in place to keep communication. We had a real shit situation about 15 years ago with 3 fatalities that wasnt good. We have since put a lot of work into making sure we account for everyone and have communication.

I also rarely turn the tracking on until I'm off the blacktop. I figure if I wreck on the highway someone else will be there. Once I leave the blacktop I turn the tracking on.

I probably need to get a personal inreach one of these days and leave it on when I hunt alone. I only carry a GPS and cell phone when hunting as well as a radio.

The inReach Explorer battery lasts a crazy long time for me. I have tracking on if I am away from vehicle or tent. I have presets I send when I am in camp or truck. Since the preset establishes my last known location, after I send them I turn off tracking and may turn the device off. I have started out the next day and forgotten to turn it on or start tracking. I will get a ping from my wife or (worse worrier) my dad telling I do not have tracking turned on. I also use a route so I can follow the blue line back to camp if I get in a whiteout of fog. I have found that inReach route line and OnX tracking can be pretty different when measuring the same track. I trust the inReach more.

As far as battery life. A full charge and a battery pack for a second charge have lasted me four days of constant use. I get two full inReach charges from each pack. I carry three battery packs. There really is not a lot of weight sacrifice to make sure you have more than enough juice.

Remember that you have to set how often inReach tracker sends up a pin. Mine is set to 10 minutes.

 

[sawatch]

Could be ideological violence. Certainly the sign of the times.
Have we reached the point where an anti would take extreme action?

Seriously? Stop politicizing.

I live in CO and have been all over that area, including that very trailhead and trail. The country and weather are the most probable reason for their emergency. A guy died and fell while hunting last year in my unit and took a while to find him. Hoping these guys are just hunkered down and holding on until found.

 

[44hunter45]

Seriously? Stop politicizing.

I live in CO and have been all over that area, including that very trailhead and trail. The country and weather are the most probable reason for their emergency. A guy died and fell while hunting last year in my unit and took a while to find him. Hoping these guys are just hunkered down and holding on until found.

You don't know me. I'm one of the least political members of HT. I don't stir up shit. Take your own advice.

My post was made in the context of whether they could have met with foul play.

Blocking a 2 poster is easy enough. Goodbye.

 

[Jnasa]

I think we should slow down on throwing out theories. I don’t think it is helpful. Imagine if one of us was out there and a relative or friend saw all of this.

Some things we should take away.
1. Always have your gear with you. At minimum some essentials and survival.
2. Don’t overly rely on technology. Yes it is great to have. Still keep some bearings of where you are.
3. We should all make donations to search and rescue. I do modest donations each year when I apply for controlled hunts. Never know if it may be one of us that needs them.

I hope both hunters are found safe and returned to their families.

 

[Westelker]

Looking on google earth, within 3/4 of a mile to the SW, W and NW from the TH are nasty cliffs and loose rocks. Across the river to the E the cliffs and rocks are closer and look more dangerous.

It's possible that climbing up into these rocks, following a bull, negotiating this terrain with one hand on their bow and the other used for balance and support one could have taken a bad fall and received a severe leg or head injury. Experiencing this type of injury and both having hypothermia, disorientation and panic with the darkness, fog, rain and low temperature their problems and mistakes may have continued to compound.

If these two young men are stranded within the rocks waring their camo only their bare faces and hands would be exposed to a telescope or binoculars. An IR camera from a helicopter would detect a darker image rather than lighter one with their decrease body temperature, making it harder to be seen among the rocks from above. And, if the rain was a downpour, their scent particles may have been washed away.

Have the S & R folks and volunteers thoroughly searched the rocks and cliffs?

Good luck! God bless the family, friends and all the volunteers!!

 

[TrapperJ]

Prayers out for these boys and their families.




Seriously???? Big ??? Those boys are lost at best...something happend and I don't think it's a 5 day pack out with a Bull.

True I wonder why hasn't a drone been brought in?

 

[TrapperJ]

That might just be ban worthy, IMO.

Sensitivetalk lol no seriously hope those guys get found but I was just giving a little joke?

 

[TrapperJ]

Not funny, son.

Yeah I see that now ill delete it i just thought a little joke nothing to crazy compared to whats being said now days would hurt

 

[mevertsen]

Sensitivetalk lol no seriously hope those guys get found but I was just giving a little joke?

Not sensitive talk.

I've done SAR's that end with dead people.

It's real, no time for a joke.

 

[npaden]

True I wonder why hasn't a drone been brought in?

Sounds like they have had several crews working thermal drones and regular drones along with everything else. Really seems like they are pulling out all the stops on this.

I'm still worried about foul play or something. Seems like with all the searching they would have found something by now.

 

[jimh406]

I've got my fingers crossed, but seems like a long time at this point.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Last September there was a wet cold storm that hit southeastern Yellowstone Park area, as a young park employee climbed Eagle Peak, apparently without adequate wet weather and cold temps clothing. An extensive search ensued, then an extensive recovery effort but to no avail. The hiker is yet to be found.
Underestimating weather changes and need for proper gear is what has resulted in a number of such tragedies. Cliffs, big rocks, dense forests, and dense blowdown can hide a person.