A 7-year-old boy found alive Monday after going missing Sunday night in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve was barefoot and braved temperatures in the 20s, officials said.
Steady, cold winds overnight made the air feel even colder, according to the park.
Caleb Lund was found early Monday morning by Colorado State Patrol Trooper Lance Sanchez as the boy walked toward a highway near the park’s entrance.
Caleb was reported missing Sunday night at about 6:30 p.m. after he became separated from his family while hiking on the dunes.
Sanchez had just started his shift and was heading to the park at about 7 a.m. to join a growing search party — including aircraft.
Officials say Caleb was taken to a hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Authorities did not elaborate on his condition.
The park contains North America’s tallest dunes — some as high as roughly 800 feet — and sits on elevations ranging from 7,515 feet to 13,604 feet.
The dunes span about 30 square miles, according to a ranger.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or
