MESA COUNTY, Colo. — What was intended to be a short hike last week in Mesa County became an ordeal for a man who spent days lost in the wilderness after his friend died in a fall down a canyon.
The 31-year-old man was rescued on Friday after another group of hikers spotted smoke from a fire the man had set to signal for help. He was physically exhausted and dehydrated, but otherwise in good health, according to a news release from the Mesa County Sheriff's Office.
The ordeal began on Tuesday, when the man and his friend, along with two dogs, decided to take a short hike in Knowles Canyon, west of Grand Junction near the Utah state line.
The two men, both from New York, had spent the past several weeks visiting National Parks. They started out from the Knowles Canyon Trailhead with day packs, water and snacks, but no cellphone.
The men became lost. On Thursday, after two and a half days of hiking, one of them fell into a canyon with the two dogs. The other man was unable to reach his companion and didn't know the extent of his injuries. He continued hiking for another day and a half to find help.
On Friday, the lost hiker made a decision that likely saved his life, according to the sheriff's office. He used a lighter to start a fire to signal for help.
Smoke from his fire got the attention of a group of four people who had hiked in from the Mee Canyon Trailhead, which had opened to the public that morning. Had the gate at the trailhead still been closed, the lost hiker might never have been found.
The group of hikers couldn't reach the stranded man, so they called 911.
Mesa County Search and Rescue, the sheriff's office and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) began to search for the lost hiker using GPS coordinates from the 911 call.
The terrain in the canyon was remote and difficult, so Centurylink's helicopter joined in the search. The helicopter crew spotted the smoke and the hiker waving his arms.
The hiker was found about four miles from the Knowles Canyon Trailhead, where he and his friend had started, but had hiked at least ten to 15 miles before he was rescued, according to the release.
Based on information from the hiker, rescue crews found the spot where the hiker's friend and the dogs had fallen into the canyon, about one mile from where the lost man was rescued.
Crews found that the 32-year-old man had died from the 60- to 80-foot fall down a slick rock formation. The dogs were found and rescued. They had minor injuries, according to the release.
The rescue and recovery effort involved more than 30 volunteers, the sheriff's office, BLM, Centurylink, Mesa County Animal Services, veterinarians from Grand Valley Emergency Center, and the Mesa County Coroner's Office.
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