MOSCA, Colo. On Oct. 31 Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue (AVSAR), Saguache County Search and Rescue (SAGSAR) and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (GRSA) collaborated in the search for an overdue hunter who had not been seen since the evening of the Oct. 30. The hunters were in an area of Saguache County near Sand Creek, on the northern side of the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
When the hunter did not make it back to camp the night of Oct. 30 and was not back to camp the morning of the Oct. 31, the hunting party triggered the SOS feature on their Garmin Satellite device. One member of the hunting party, the missing hunter’s brother, went out on foot to attempt to locate him. The brother later contacted the responding teams and reported that the hunter, Lance Walker of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was found deceased in an area of rough terrain.
A unified command was created with SAGSAR, AVSAR, and the National Park Service (NPS). Over twenty team members from three teams (Saguache, Alamosa and Chaffee South) responded to the incident. Helicopter assets were not available on the first operational day to assist in inserting teams into the field due to weather conditions. Team members all began on foot to confirm the location of the deceased hunter and to aid in getting the hunter’s brother out of the field safely. Because of darkness quickly approaching and very technical terrain, recovery efforts would not be executed until the next day.
In the early morning of Nov. 1, Reach Air Medical Helicopter (REACH71) was requested to insert team members into the field and a request was placed to request the use of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) Montrose Helitack to extract the deceased hunter. Due to high winds in Montrose, helitack was not able to assist. Three additional team members inserted into the field on foot. A total of seven team members, from AVSAR, SAGSAR and Chaffee County Search and Rescue – South (CCSAR-S) extracted the subject in very technical terrain. After four lowers and two raises with technical rope rescue equipment, the seven team members carried the subject to an upper Landing Zone where DFPC Flat Iron Helitack flew the subject out to the incident command post. All seven team members then hiked out of the field. All teams were out of the field by 9 p.m. on Nov. 1.
The Unified Command of the incident (GRSA, AVSAR, CCSAR-S, and SAGSAR) would like to send our deepest condolences to the family of Lance Walker. We cannot thank enough all the responding teams and assets for their help in getting this man home to his family after such a tragic accident.
REACH Air Medical Services
Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office
Chaffee County Search and Rescue – South
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
Saguache County Search & Rescue
Saguache County Sheriff’s Office
Eagle Air Med
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve