Rescue workers have been searching this week for a 28-year-old man who failed to return from a hike Saturday evening in the Echo Basin area of the La Plata Mountains.
The missing individual was identified as Ian OBrien, of Page, Arizona, said Montezuma County Sheriff Steven Nowlin.
OBrien was camping with his girlfriend near the upper end of Echo Basin along Forest Service Road 566. He went hiking about 2 p.m. Saturday to Hesperus Peak, a hike he had done in the past, Nowlin said.
Rescue workers know he made it to the peak, because he took a photograph and shared it about 6:30 p.m. – about 4½ hours after he set off on the hike, Nowlin said.
“He was supposed to be back, and it got dark,” Nowlin said. “They started looking for him, couldn’t find him and then notified us about 12:30 in the morning.”
The sheriff activated the Montezuma County Search and Rescue team, which included an aircraft that searched for a couple of hours at night without finding any sign of OBrien.
Two more aircraft and ground crews joined the search Sunday morning, he said. About 30 ground crews were involved in the search Monday.
By 9 a.m. Tuesday, 12 teams were assigned to the search, with more en route, Nowlin said. A U.S. Air Force Blackhawk helicopter was also searching the area, as well as a helicopter normally used for firefighting activities. And a second helicopter team was en route from Kirkland Air Force Base to relieve the first team.
La Plata County Search and Rescue also joined the rescue effort this week, he said.
OBrien was reportedly wearing a gray tank top, black shorts, tennis shoes and possibly had a long-sleeve hiking shirt.
Nowlin expressed frustration that hikers don’t better prepare themselves for the eventuality that something might go wrong on their outings.
“He was not really dressed for this, at all,” Nowlin said. “Even though he is an outdoors person, had a lot of extensive hiking in the wilderness and what not. … I don’t know why folks can’t be prepared in the outdoors. It’s sad.”
OBrien did have a GPS unit and possibly some snacks and a hydration pack, Nowlin said. OBrien also reportedly suffers from epilepsy, which can lead to seizures, Nowlin said. He possibly had his medication with him.
The temperature dropped to about 38 degrees early Sunday but rose to about 79 degrees Sunday afternoon, he said.
Search parties resumed their efforts at 8 a.m. Monday.
“We’re doing everything that we can,” Nowlin said.
shane@durangoherald.com
