BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. – The ground search for an overdue hiker in Boulder County who has been missing since Feb. 3 is coming to a halt, the sheriff’s office said in a news release Monday.
Josh Hall, 27, a resident of Arvada, left for a hike at around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, from the Hessie Trailhead with his dog and was reported as missing later that day. His vehicle was found but Hall was not, deputies said, and his cell phone last pinged near the Devil’s Thumb Trail/Diamond Lake cut-off.
“After multiple days of searching, we have made the difficult decision to suspend ground search efforts, until such time as new information surfaces, or until snow melt occurs, increasing safety and searching becomes more feasible,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement Monday afternoon, adding they’ll continue to search from the skies, weather permitting.
A Flight for Life helicopter tried to search the area on Monday but was unable to due to high winds.
“Searchers have checked accessible cabins and mine shafts along the 4th of July Road and along the Devils Thumb Lake Trail below the Diamond Lake cutoff, that they were physically able to reach,” officials said in the release.
Anyone recreating in that area who comes across any discarded clothing items or a dog leash is asked to contact Boulder County dispatch at (303) 441-4444.
The sheriff’s office said approximately 70 rescuers have helped in the search, totaling 650 person hours between Wednesday night and Saturday evening.