You are here

Search Under Way In Mesa Verde National Park For Missing Man

Share

A search was under way Tuesday morning for a man reported missing at Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado.

Mitchell Stehling, 51, of Texas, failed to return Sunday from a visit to Spruce Tree House, according to park officials. When he did not return, his family called rangers for help.

A quick search of Spruce Canyon, Spruce Tree House, Petroglyph Trail and other trails on Chapin Mesa was initiated following the report. Crews were out early Monday morning and expanded the search area on foot, by horseback, and by helicopter. Two dog teams were also assisting in the search. Approximately 30 people searched multiple trails and canyons until late evening.

Crews resumed their search Tuesday morning. They were joined by 20 members of the San Juan National Forest Hot Shots, bringing the total number of personnel involved to 50.

Daily high temperatures at Mesa Verde are in the 90s. The terrain being searched consists of steep canyons and mesa tops at an elevation between 6,500 and 8,000 feet. Mr. Stehling was last seen wearing a brown shirt and hat, khaki shorts and hiking boots. He was not carrying any water or other gear.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.