Two of three snowmobilers lost in the mountains of Summit County since Sunday were found late Tuesday and were flown to a hospital in Glenwood Springs, but the third man was reported dead.
Craig Morris of Florida and Murry Melloni of Littleton were found by aNational Guard Black Hawk helicopter crew that spotted a campfire, according to Paulette Horr, spokeswoman for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
The helicopter landed as close as possible. The crew snowshoed in and found Morris and Melloni, Horr said.
The two told rescuers that the third member of their party, John McKibben of Kremmling, had died Monday night.
Morris had sent text messages to his brother earlier Tuesday, and rescuers used those to help in their search. However, the messages and an abandoned snowmobile had led rescuers to search the east side of Elliott Ridge. The two survivors were found on the west side of the ridge and 4 miles outside the search perimeter.
The three men were last seen Sunday morning, when they left for a day-trip. When they didn’t return Sunday evening, their friends and family began looking for them.
