Hunters Asked To Aid In Searches For Missing Hikers
DENVER (CBS4) - Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are asking hunters to keep a lookout for missing hikers ahead of the bow hunting season, which begins Saturday.
Civilians have proved effective at locating missing hikers.
The likely remains of Patricia Wallace, 72, were discovered earlier this month by a family hiking in deep wilderness in Grand County.
Even finding a family member's remains can bring relief.
"Missing was just such an empty, open-ended thing," Wallace's daughter, Katie Moore, said after the discovery.
The more searchers, the better the prospects.
"This was a miracle," Grand County Undersheriff John Stein said in reference to Wallace's case. "This was more than a needle in a haystack, when you're talking hundreds of thousands of acres and square miles."
The state says it hopes hunters can help search for two other recently missing hikers.
Littleton resident Sherri Ahlbrandt, 54, went missing on Aug. 13 near Crested Butte. Rescuers searched for three days but haven't found any clues.
On Aug. 17, Aspen resident Dorothy Jenkins walked away from her campsite. The search for her was called off Thursday.
Hunters should locate any potential clues with a marker, like a red bandanna tied to a tree, and an exact location with GPS.