SAGUACHE COUNTY — On Oct. 31, Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue (AVSAR), Saguache County Search and Rescue (SAGSAR), and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (GRSA) collaborated in the search for an overdue hunter who was found dead by the search and rescuers. 

The deceased and other hunters were in an area of Saguache County near Sand Creek, on the northern side of the national park. The deceased was Lance Walker of Baton Rouge, La. 

When Walker, did not return to camp on the night of Oct. 30, and was still missing the following morning, the hunting party took immediate action by triggering the SOS feature on their Garmin Satellite device. 

One member of the hunting party, the missing hunter's brother, bravely went out on foot to attempt to locate him. The brother later contacted the responding teams and reported that the hunter was found deceased in an area of rough terrain.  

A unified command was created with Saguache and Alamosa Search and Rescue and the National Park Service (NPS). Over 20 team members from three teams (Saguache, Alamosa, and Chaffee South) responded to the incident. Helicopter assets were not available on the first operational day to assist in inserting teams into the field due to weather conditions. 

Team members all began on foot to confirm the location of the deceased hunter and to aid in getting the hunter's brother out of the field safely. Because darkness quickly approached and the terrain was very technical, recovery efforts would only be executed the next day.  

In the early morning of Nov. 1, Reach Air Medical Helicopter (REACH71) was requested to insert team members into the field, and a request was placed to request the use of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) Montrose Helitack to extract the deceased hunter. Helitack was not able to assist due to high winds in Montrose. 

Three additional team members were inserted into the field on foot. Seven team members from AVSAR, SAGSAR, and Chaffee County Search and Rescue – South (CCSAR-S), extracted the subject in technical terrain. After four lowers and two raises with technical rope rescue equipment, the seven team members carried the subject to an upper Landing Zone where DFPC Flat Iron Helitack flew the subject out to the incident command post. All seven team members then hiked out of the field. All teams were out of the field by 9 p.m. on Nov. 1.  

The cause of death is unknown at this time.