Extreme weather, including snow and blowing snow, hampered the search today for two snowboarders missing from the Wolf Creek Ski Area near Pagosa Springs.
The men were reported missing Saturday at about 5:30 p.m., said Mineral County Sheriff Fred Hosselkaus.
The sheriff’s office identified the missing pair as Michael George and Kyle Kerscher, both 27, from Albuquerque.
A car belonging to one of the men was towed from the ski-area parking lot.
A helicopter took off this morning to aid in the search but has since been grounded because of snow, Hosselkaus said.
About 40 people were searching for the two men today, Hosselkaus said, including members of the Wolf Creek Ski Patrol, the Upper San Juan Search and Rescue, San Juan National Forest officials, and the Mineral, Archuleta and Rio Grande County sheriff’s offices.
Wolf Creek Ski Area has received more than 40 inches of snow in the last 48 hours, and Wolf Creek Pass is closed because of the threat of avalanches.
“There is so much avalanche danger on the mountain, it’s hard to get Sno-Cats up for the search without causing more problems,” Hosselkaus said.
Ground searchers were pulled back this afternoon because of the relentless snow. Searchers are hoping for a break in the weather Tuesday that will allow for uninterrupted searches.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
