A scaled-down group of rescuers scoured new areas Thursday in search of a 35-year-old Lakewood mother of four children who has been missing since Saturday in the Holy Cross Wilderness Area.
Michelle Vanek, 35, was last seen near timberline on the trail to the summit of Mount of the Holy Cross, when she sent an unidentified hiking companion ahead while she rested.
A massive five-day search effort has yielded no clues, and on Thursday, a group of about 40 searchers and two helicopters focused on an area south of the 14,005-foot mountain near the Tuhare and Seven Sisters lakes, said Lt. Bill Kaufman of the Eagle County Sheriff’s Department.
“One group is prepared to spend the night and make this a two-day operation,” he said, noting that the weather had improved dramatically since a drenching storm left the upper part of the mountain cloaked in snow Wednesday morning.
Vanek was dressed lightly and did not carry a pack with extra food or clothing.
“The level of optimism is still high,” Kaufman said. “We’ve seen (people out for) longer times with success stories. Of course, the longer it goes, the tougher it gets.”
As many as 120 searchers at a time had been out looking for Vanek earlier in the week, checking the most likely areas where she could have gotten off route, such as the East Cross Creek valley, and the dangerous cliff- bound area surrounding the Bowl of Tears.
“We have found no clues. It’s unusual, but not uncommon,” Kaufman said.
Searchers said they are honoring the companion’s request not to be named. They said he wants the focus to remain on finding Vanek and that they have no reason to suspect foul play.
Hundreds of friends and family attended a prayer service at Christ on the Mountain Catholic Church in Lakewood on Thursday evening.
“This week has been really stressful on the family,” said friend Joe Schallmoser, who attended the service.
Many have pitched in on the search, including her husband, Ben.
“Everyone’s spirits are still up,” said Usher Lieberman, a family friend. “It’s been up and down. They came home last night, and it wasn’t so good, but then (Thursday) the weather cleared and everyone regained hope.”
Staff writer Felisa Cardona contributed to this report.
