A fourth day of searching for a missing 21-year-old Marine failed to produce any sign of the hiker, last seen on the western edge of Eldorado Canyon State Park near Boulder.
More than 100 people searched for 12 hours Saturday, hoping for any trace of Lance Hering. The searchers included friends, family and volunteers drawn by the story of the missing Marine.
William Rodden left his Longmont home at dawn to help look for Hering. The Vietnam War veteran said it was the least he could do.
“No Marine leaves another Marine behind. He’s covered by the code,” Rodden said.
Rodden joined searchers from as far away as Gunnison. A Denver Police Department helicopter with infrared sensing equipment also took part.
“We haven’t had a search of this scope in the last few years,” said Cmdr. Phil West of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
Hering hasn’t been seen since Wednesday, when his friend Steve Powers said he left him about a mile and a half from the Eldorado Canyon trailhead to get help. The pair had been hiking and climbing boulders Tuesday night when Hering fell about 15 feet and landed on his head, according to Powers.
Kara Sutton sat and watched the search efforts from in front of the Eldorado Canyon State Park Visitors Center. Her sister, Kaley, has been dating Hering since they were students at Fairview High School in Boulder.
“He’s really independent. He’s always loved climbing,” she said.
The search was halted at 6 p.m. Saturday and is expected to resume at 6 this morning.
Staff writer Annette Espinoza can be reached at 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com.
Continuing search for Lance Hering
Lance Hering, 21, was last seen Wednesday about a mile and a half from Eldorado Canyon. He is about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. He has short-cropped blond hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on his disappearance is asked to call the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office at 303-441-4444.
