Search Over For Missing Backcountry Skiers, 1 Deceased
LEADVILLE, Colo. (CBS4) - CBS4 has learned that after both missing backcountry skiers were found Thursday, one of them has died. The search for the two skiers began after they had not been heard from since Wednesday.
Search teams were deployed to the backcountry near Turquoise Lake.
CBS4 learned from sources that the adult was located and taken to the hospital for hypothermia on Thursday afternoon. That person did not survive. The teen was not injured.
Earlier, Betty Benson with Lake County told CBS4 they are requesting citizens to stay out of the area for now so crews can look for the skiers without confusing with other tracks and traffic.
That request came after several posts on social media asking for volunteers to come help, Benson says that is not what the incident command team wants at this time.
Earlier on Thursday, search and rescue crews had not identified the pair as "missing" instead saying they may be "hunkered down" somewhere waiting out the storm. There have been no reports of avalanches in the area according to Benson.
The skiers have not been identified but according to friends they are very experienced backcountry users.
Matt Kroschel covers news throughout Colorado working from the CBS4 Mountain Newsroom. Send story ideas to mrkroschel@cbs.com and connect with him on Twitter @Matt_Kroschel.