The father of a 3-year-old boy who disappeared while on a hike nine years ago joined others Monday in promoting recreational safety awareness.
Allyn Atadero, a teacher at Falcon Bluffs Middle School in Littleton, said cases like that of his son, Jaryd, who disappeared while on a hike in 1999, show the need for Coloradans to take safety precautions while enjoying the state’s natural beauty.
“When you’re on a trail you need to make sure 100 percent of the time you know where everybody is,” Atadero said. “You can’t turn your back on anyone, especially young ones.”
Atadero and his son were on a camping trip with a Christian singles group, but Atadero was not among the 11 adults on the hike in the Big South Trail area of Poudre Canyon in northern Colorado when Jaryd disappeared.
Authorities, after DNA testing of a skull fragment and a child’s tooth they found, believe the toddler may have been attacked by a mountain lion.
Atadero said Monday that before any outdoor trip, adults should equip children with whistles that can be blown if the child becomes lost.
“I would think we would have found him if he had had a whistle,” Atadero said of his son.
Atadero and Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, held a news conference at Falcon Bluffs Middle School on Monday to talk about recreational safety.
Gov. Bill Ritter has issued a proclamation designating this week as Recreational Safety Awareness Week.
The proclamation calls for hikers, skiers and others to “have a basic knowledge of general emergency procedures, travel with food, water, a whistle and first-aid kits, and choose to take advantage of Colorado’s wilderness in a group or with a partner, rather than alone.”
Outdoor enthusiasts should also be aware of weather conditions, how to handle encounters with wild animals, injury, dehydration, hunger and getting lost or separated, the proclamation says.
Tim Hoover: 303-954-1626 or thoover@denverpost.com
