Search Underway for Missing Hiker in Southwest Colorado

A search is currently underway for a 28-year-old man who disappeared on Saturday evening while hiking in the Echo Basin area of the La Plata Mountains. The missing person, identified as Ian OBrien from Page, Arizona, was camping near the upper part of Echo Basin with his girlfriend. He set off on a hike to Hesperus Peak, a trail he had hiked before, around 2 p.m.

Sheriff Steven Nowlin of Montezuma County reported that OBrien successfully reached the peak and even shared a photo around 6:30 p.m., approximately four and a half hours after starting his hike. However, he did not return as scheduled, prompting his party to initiate a search after nightfall. When they couldn’t find him, they contacted the authorities at 12:30 a.m.

Photo courtesy of Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Nowlin activated the Montezuma County Search and Rescue team, which conducted an aerial search during the night but found no signs of OBrien. On Sunday morning, two additional aircraft and ground crews joined the search, with approximately 30 ground crews participating on Monday.

OBrien was last seen wearing a gray tank top, black shorts, tennis shoes, and possibly a long-sleeve hiking shirt. Nowlin mentioned that OBrien had a GPS unit, snacks, a hydration pack, and possibly his epilepsy medication.

Search efforts resumed at 8 a.m. on Monday, and Nowlin assured that everything possible is being done to locate OBrien.