Dozens of first responders are combing the southern Colorado mountains for a missing 27-year-old Salida man who went hunting on Wednesday afternoon and never returned, according to Chaffee County officials.
went hunting for turkeys on Mount Shavano at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and had planned to return to town for an appointment at 3:45 p.m., the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook.
When he did not show up for the appointment, his family found his truck near the Blanks Cabin Trailhead. His phone was inside with the battery drained, sheriff’s officials said.
Search teams from across the state responded to begin looking for Sites, including dog teams, drones, helicopters, airplanes and crews on foot.
There were 80 people out searching for Sites as of Saturday morning, including more drone teams and mules, the sheriff’s office said.
In a statement, Sheriff Andy Rohrich asked community members to avoid the area and not to search for Sites independently after several people went to the area Friday and slowed down search crews.
“We appreciate all the community’s support and willingness to jump in and help, but we do not want our team’s attention on anything other than finding Kaden,” Rohrich said.
Sites is described as white, 6-foot-2 and 160 pounds with light brown hair, a goatee and mustache. He was last seen wearing a green hoodie, ripped khaki pants and hiking boots. He was carrying a shotgun and binocular pack but no other equipment. He also may have put on a , or camouflage, suit.
