Lost hunter tries to start fire with binoculars for warmth in Colorado, rescuers say
A lost hunter relied on his military background to survive overnight in the frigid Colorado mountains, rescuers said.
The group he was hunting with hadn’t seen him since about midday Thursday, Nov. 21, and called rescuers at about 7:40 p.m. for help finding him, Grand County Search and Rescue said on Facebook.
A team of rescuers set out to locate the hunter in an area between Sheep Mountain and South Corral Peak. Then after investigating, the agency paged out the entire team to the area to search for the missing hunter.
Photos show snow-covered ground across the area.
The hunter didn’t have the necessary equipment for an overnight trip in the frigid wilderness, the agency said. Seventeen rescuers searched unsuccessfully overnight, then the Colorado Search and Rescue Association called in a second team from several other agencies, officials said.
Another hunter had found the missing hunter by 12:20 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, officials said.
“While he was cold and hungry, he was okay,” rescuers said.
He warmed up by the fire and rescuers escorted him back to the trailhead where Grand County EMS evaluated him for injury or illness.
“Thanks to his military background,” the hunter “had been able to build himself a warm place to sleep during the night and was in the process of attempting to start a fire with his binoculars,” officials said.
Rescuers reminded all backcountry users to “always carry the 10 essentials (including food, water, shelter, and fire starters),” officials said.
“Love to read happy endings!” someone said in the comments on the post.
Grand County is about a 100-mile drive northwest from downtown Denver.
This story was originally published November 26, 2024 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Lost hunter tries to start fire with binoculars for warmth in Colorado, rescuers say."
