lferrell@alamosanews.com 

MINERAL COUNTY — A missing prospector who vanished during what was supposed to be a short hike was found safe Tuesday afternoon after wandering the rugged Colorado wilderness for over two days.  

The hiker, who was reported missing Sunday at 11:30 p.m. while prospecting near Fox Mountain Road, also known as Forest Service Road 381, sparked a multiagency search effort through dense forests and open meadows. According to Mineral County Emergency Manager Clint Leggett, the man had only intended to go for a half-mile walk before getting lost.  

The search began in earnest Monday morning, though high winds initially hindered operations. Leggett, a local search and rescue coordinator, noted that the wind was too severe to deploy standard drones. By Monday afternoon, the wind subsided enough for Upper San Juan Search and Rescue from Archuleta County to launch a larger, specialized drone that mapped the area throughout the afternoon.  

Ground teams quickly grew to include personnel from Upper San Juan Search and Rescue, Mineral County Search and Rescue, and the local sheriff's office, alongside the missing man's friends and family. Upper San Juan Search and Rescue deployed 11 searchers and a tracking dog to perform a large, sweeping search tracking outward from the center line.  

"Every situation is different," Leggett said, noting that rescuers tailored their strategy based on the subject's habits. Because the missing man was not an avid hiker and generally avoided climbing over fallen trees, teams focused heavily on skirting the edges of open meadows and tree lines while other teams searched denser areas throughout the forest.  

The breakthrough came Tuesday afternoon while rescue teams were stationed at the incident command post. Dispatchers notified coordinators that two women had spotted a man walking near Tucker Ponds on Pass Creek Road.  

Initial reports from the scene caused brief confusion. The callers described a man with a gray beard and gray hair who claimed to be walking from Summitville. Because the missing prospector was described as clean-shaven, coordinators initially doubted it was the same person. However, Mineral County Sheriff Terry Wetherill drove down to investigate. Within 45 minutes, he confirmed he had the missing man safely in his truck.  

Though it took the hiker nearly three days to reach Pass Creek Road, he was found uninjured and has since been reunited with his grateful family.  

Emergency coordinators also stressed the importance of backcountry preparation. Officials advise anyone heading into the wilderness to carry a satellite-capable smartphone or an InReach device, stick strictly to a predefined plan left with family and notify the sheriff's office of their route beforehand.  

"If you get lost, stop and think," Leggett said. "Just hitting 911 logs your satellite location. Send a message, stay put, and we will come get you."  

Following the successful rescue, local officials urged outdoor enthusiasts to exercise extreme caution. The region is currently under Stage 2 fire restrictions, and the public is strongly reminded not to start any fires.