Hiker who reached Colorado summit didn’t return, officials say. Now, the search is on
UPDATE: Searchers have recovered the body of this missing hiker.
A search is underway for a man who reached the summit of a mountain in Colorado and never returned, officials said.
Luis Corkern, 41, reached Kit Carson Peak in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of southern Colorado at around 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, according to Custer County Search and Rescue. Corkern never made it back down the trailhead to his car.
Crews searched for Corkern with helicopters and on the ground on Monday, July 11, according to Custer County SAR.
One of Corkern’s family members took to Facebook on Monday to ask for others’ “thoughts and prayers.”
“I last heard from him (Corkern) Saturday and he was expected to be down the mountain by sometime Sunday,” Myndee Corkern wrote. “Search and rescue was out all day but has stopped looking and will resume tomorrow.”
Helicopter crews continued to search the area on Tuesday, July 12, Custer County SAR said.
Corkern, who is about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and around 180 pounds, was wearing a white climbing helmet with a raccoon tail tied to it, according to officials. He has an orange and maroon backpack and may be wearing a gray or black T-shirt.
Kit Carson Mountain is the 23rd-highest ranked peak in the state of Colorado, according to Summit Post. With an elevation of 14,165 feet, it is part of the 14ers.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office at 719-655-2544.
This story was originally published July 12, 2022 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Hiker who reached Colorado summit didn’t return, officials say. Now, the search is on."
