Missing CO Hunters

[Johnny Bravo]

Does anyone on the forum know definitively if the young men were found with the Garmin inReach still in their possession (not clipped to harness of one of the packs left in their vehicle)?

Likewise, were their bodies found in close proximity to each other out in the environment? Or--and I haven't heard any suggestion of this at all--were they found in a shelter like a small secluded tent that could have been missed in earlier searches?

(I've owned camouflaged backpacking tents since the 1970s. Pitched in the right kind timber or brush, they can be passed without noticing from mere feet away.)

It’s stated the inreach was in the car.

 

[WesternWyoming]

One more thing: I always carry a signal mirror. Works even on cloudy days. Seen for miles.

 

[Westelker]

I t think its good that many are sharing experiences where "quick" and "easy" hunts can turn into more than one expects.

The most turned around and dangerous situations I experienced was hunting pronghorn in Blaine County Montana. Similar deal saw a good buck, walked 1-1.5 miles and my wife shot it.

Fluke storm blew in at dark, dumped 5 inches of wet snow, couldn't see shit. That country has draws that lead nowhere and I got thoroughly mixed up. Thankfully took enough extra stuff, but we still froze our asses off. Finally walked to a farmhouse and got a lift back to the truck.

That hunt got my attention, and fast...I dont leave the truck without taking the usual stuff anymore. I usually mark the truck with a GPS too. Can't be too safe.

I guess if there's a positive from this, its made a lot of hunters give things some thought, be prepared, etc.

Really shitty situation, I hate these stories.

A story real similar. My brother had a close friend die south of Rock Springs, WYO while hunting pronghorn a couple years ago. While hunting alone, he left his truck and was caught in a fast moving WYO "whiteout" with zero visibility dropping eight inches of snow. He was found three days later with nothing but his rifle, binoculars and a small hunting "kit" and water in his day pack.

This kind of tragedy happens so fast and unexpected. Very sad for his family and friends.

Another lesson for all us!

 

[Westelker]

A story real similar. My brother had a close friend die south of Rock Springs, WYO while hunting pronghorn a couple years ago. While hunting alone, he left his truck and was caught in a fast moving WYO "whiteout" with zero visibility dropping eight inches of snow. He was found three days later with nothing but his rifle, binoculars and a small hunting "kit" and water in his day pack.

This kind of tragedy happens so fast and unexpected. Very sad for his family and friends.

Another lesson for all us!

This friend of my brother was found only 1/2 mile from his truck.

 

[MTGomer]

Maybe I’m dumb but I’m still considering discontinuing in reach. It sits in my pack and while the sos button would be nice, if I have the ability to dig it out of my pack then I have the ability to text. My phone is much better for texting, seems faster once connected.

Only thing I’m not sure of is the SAR insurance I have through/with Garmin. If I can’t keep that without the inreach then I’ll prly keep both.

I can have a full conversation with my garmin inreach messenger in the amount of time it takes my iPhone to find a satellite.

A phone has a long way to go before it replaces an inreach. It will probably improve by leaps quickly but it isn’t anywhere close yet.

 

[jimss]

Although an Inreach is good, it's better to be prepared for the worse. Weather can change so quickly for the worse! I was caught in a downpour in July in the alpine in Colo and got thoroughly soaked. I had the very best gortex rain gear available but it didn't take much time with gale-force wind and rain to soak through. I was around 8 miles from my truck and it would have been a spooky situation if I hadn't already set up my basecamp and dried clothes and a sleeping bag. Even in the summer it's worth precautions in those types of hypothermic conditions.

After that trip I immediately went out and bought one of these:

SOL Excape Bivvy with Hood

Stay warm and dry with the high-visibility orange Escape Bivvy, a breathable bivvy crafted of a proprietary fabric that allows moisture to e

www.scheels.com

They only weigh 8 oz, is fairly waterproof, windproof, and breathable. It only takes a little bit of room in a pack.

 

[WIbiggame]

SOL Excape Bivvy with Hood

Stay warm and dry with the high-visibility orange Escape Bivvy, a breathable bivvy crafted of a proprietary fabric that allows moisture to e

www.scheels.com

They only weigh 8 oz, is fairly waterproof, windproof, and breathable. It only takes a little bit of room in a pack.

This whole situation is so sad and I cant imagine what the loved ones of these ywo are going through or what these 2 young men went through in their final hours.

I have that emergency bivy you mentioned and I wouldn't plan on that doing much in a survival situation for you. It will help sure but you should also have a puffy jacket and rain gear.

I say this from experience, this spring went on a bear hunt in Montana. Hiked in and setup spike camp realized I left my quilt in the truck. Thought no problem I will put all my clothes on (always sleep in most of my hunting clothes) 210wt merino top and bottom, kuiu attack pants, kuiu top and soft shell jacket along with stone glacier puffy jack and pants and use the emergency bivy for my sleeping bag. Well I made it 1 night I woke up absolutely frozen. Was shivering toes where purple. I am usually a hot sleeper.

Shared this story just to point while that bivy "helps" always have more and dont expect to be remotely comfortable (which i get shouldn't be the goal in true survial)

 

[Big Sky Guy]

If your bino harness has a magnetic closure, it can/will interfere with your phone compass or regular compass as well. (Or your buddies stuff if he / she has a magnetic closure)

Then u wind up doing the whole waving phone around in a figure 8 to reset / correct it.

I do run a marsupial magnetic closure harness. Not saying this isn't true or wasn't the cause, but when this has happened it's after getting my phone out of my pocket or sometimes just in the vehicle. I also have never kept my phone in my bino harness because of this. Doesn't seem like holding my phone which is always 1-2 ft. away from harness would be close enough but I don't know for sure?

 

[Big Sky Guy]

How are you going to text when the phone won't connect?

The only time I had "trouble" with my phone connecting has been in a steep canyon. Even then it just took longer. Seems just as likely of a possibility Garmin wouldn't connect? My understanding is they run on different satellite networks, but both are still satellite networks?

 

[Big Sky Guy]

I can have a full conversation with my garmin inreach messenger in the amount of time it takes my iPhone to find a satellite.

A phone has a long way to go before it replaces an inreach. It will probably improve by leaps quickly but it isn’t anywhere close yet.

Interesting. I would say the exact opposite about my phone. Once connected, which has typically taken 1-2 minutes, it's nearly the same as regular text as far as back and forth. I've had my inReach take upwards of 15 minutes to send messages before, setting it out on a log with clear view of sky at camp etc. I do have the DeLorme version, but from what I've read shouldn't matter?

 

[SaskHunter]

It doesn't take much for shyt to go sideways. I've had a couple "close calls" that really put things into perspective and really justified all that spare gear I haul around on day hunts. Those emergency bivvies won't make you comfortable, but they might save your life. Ultimately, no amount of preparations can prevent freak accidents or mistakes.

 

[MTGomer]

I do have the DeLorme version, but from what I've read shouldn't matter?

I went from the DeLorme black box to the garmin messenger (the little hockey puck looking thing). There’s a big improvement in speed

 

[accubond]

Somebody posted a response from the fiancé on Facebook and she said it was officially from lightning.

 

[rjthehunter]

As stated above, Lightning hit the ground near them and took them both in an instant. At least it was a quick, instant passing and not some drawn out event with pain and suffering. What an unfortunate scenario.


Here's the post from his Fiance.

https://www.facebook.com/bridget.murphy.910716/posts/pfbid02T8VHqxoA7VwfuDZwBtajXJnKhmTtMxKW4qrFVHVB9wZqaJx84GWbeTtSTUxbwVttl

 

[Mallardsx2]

Sad deal. Glad they didn't suffer and it was an instant death.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

I went from the DeLorme black box to the garmin messenger (the little hockey puck looking thing). There’s a big improvement in speed

Don't tell me that. You're just giving me another purchasing dilemma!

 

[Dsnow9]

Man. That sucks! Glad it was instant. Posted my picture in close calls but this is even more of a confirmation of how lucky I was a couple years ago.

 

[Sheltowee]

Elk hunters found dead in Colorado were killed by lightning, coroner says

The two elk hunters found dead last week in southern Colorado were killed by lightning, according to the Conejos County coroner.

www.denverpost.com

 

[utwesternhunter]

Elk hunters found dead in Colorado were killed by lightning, coroner says

The two elk hunters found dead last week in southern Colorado were killed by lightning, according to the Conejos County coroner.

www.denverpost.com

Just reaffirmed my terror of lightning. There's no safe place when those clouds roll in and you can't get back to a vehicle. I guess hunker under the smallest trees in the canopy and cross your fingers?

 

[seeth07]

I think the main "lesson learned" from this that I'm taking away is that if I ever find myself in a situation where a storm rolls in and I'm stuck in it with someone else, there would be a lot of sense in keeping distance between the two of us. It may seem like common sense but the one time with my wife that I know we were caught in a storm with lightning we did not do that. For sure will be doing it now.