The Colorado National Guard has joined the search for three hunters lost since Saturday in the Flat Tops Wilderness area.
The search is concentrated in northeastern Garfield County, where 22 searchers spent Tuesday scouring the area on snowmobiles. The Guard joined the search Tuesday afternoon.
According to Tanny McGinnis, spokeswoman for the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, a party of five hunters from metro Denver left camp Saturday morning, but three did not return that evening.
The two hunters who returned to the camp searched all day Sunday and notified law enforcement of their missing colleagues Sunday night.
Because of the snowstorm moving into the area, officials could not launch a search until 6 a.m. Monday.
Searchers are asking that anyone who may have come in contact with the lost hunters, or comes in contact with them, to immediately call 911.
McGinnis said the Sheriff’s Office and Garfield County Search and Rescue are reminding people going into the backcountry to be prepared for winter conditions with proper gear such as GPS, warm clothing, a fire starter and adequate food and water.
Howard Pankratz, The Denver Post
