The bodies of two snowboarders missing since January in Mineral County were found today, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Michael George and Kyle Kershen, both 27 from Albuquerque, were last seen snowboarding at Wolf Creek Ski Resort in southwest Colorado.
An autopsy will be performed Tuesday to positively identify the bodies found Monday, according to a statement from Mineral County coroner Charles Downing.
The two had been the subject of an extensive six-day search by snowmobiles and helicopters in January. Their car was found in the ski area’s parking lot.
Details of the discovery were sparse today, except that a helicopter located the bodies in Mineral County. According to the KOB TV station in Albuquerque, Monday’s search was paid for with private donations by family and friends.
One of the bodies was found at about 1 p.m. just outside the ski area. The other body was found about 4 p.m., a family member told the station.
Rescuers in January had concentrated their search to the ski area, since George and Kershen were not experienced snowboarders and were unlikely to have made it far into the backcountry, rescuers said at the time.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, urged Colorado officials to continue the search.
Authorities had planned to search the terrain near Wolf Creek again in the coming days, said John Weiss, the undersheriff in neighboring Archuleta County.
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
