Lost & Found on Mount Shavano: A Colorado Hiking Scare

In a harrowing twist during an office retreat, a group of 15 co-workers set out for an adventurous hike up Mount Shavano, embarking from the Blanks Cabin Trailhead, near Salida, Colorado. What began as a team-building exercise took a dramatic turn when they descended with one person missing. The Chaffee County Search and Rescue South described the unfolding events in a nail-biting press release on Facebook.

Their morning trek up the formidable Mount Shavano on August 23 commenced without incident. It wasn’t until one hiker reached the peak around 11:30 a.m. and began his descent that the situation quickly escalated. Facing disorientation in a treacherous scree field on the mountain's northeast slopes, the hiker found himself in a precarious position. Realizing the potential danger, he dropped a pin to indicate his location to his descending colleagues, who advised him to climb back up the slope to the established trail.

In a perilous series of events amplified by the onslaught of a strong storm bringing freezing rain and fierce winds late in the afternoon, the hiker lost his way again, this time losing cell phone signal as well. As night fell, his colleagues grew concerned, and a search was prompted at approximately 9 p.m. for the hiker, reported to be dressed in all black.

Throughout the freezing night, search teams from Chaffee County Search and Rescue South, met with challenging weather, conducted a painstaking search. The mission rallied several other rescue organizations in a desperate bid to find the man.

In a stroke of luck, the hiker regained just enough cell service to dial 911 after experiencing numerous falls. This critical call led the rescuers to his location in a gully below Esprit Point. His rescue would come after enduring a night in harsh conditions, and he was immediately taken to a hospital.

The spokesperson for Chaffee County Search and Rescue South has kept the hiker's condition confidential. The rescue team expressed in their release, “This hiker was phenomenally lucky to have regained cell service when he did," underscoring the importance and often the life-saving role of emergency communication in the wilderness.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of preparation, the unforgiving nature of mountain terrains, and the inherent risks of hiking high-altitude trails. Moreover, it highlights the critical work of search and rescue organizations and the comparative miracle of chance that often determines the fine line between survival and tragedy.