22-year-old vanished from trail run in Colorado mountains. He’s been missing 11 days

A hiker vanished from a trail run in the Colorado mountains, rescuers said. He’s been missing for 11 days.

Daniel Lamthach, a 22-year-old from Salt Lake City, planned to go on a trail run in the Trinity Peaks on Sunday, July 17, according to the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management. He wasn’t prepared to stay overnight, but he never returned.

Four days later, a concerned friend reported Lamthach missing. Rescuers started a search operation, and a helicopter crew scoured the area.

Officials found his car parked at a trailhead, but he was nowhere to be found. The search continued for days as severe weather moved into the area.

Rescuers searched the area and then searched again until operations were temporarily suspended Wednesday, July 27, as a flood watch was issued.

Officials discouraged people from starting their own search and going into the wilderness while the search was suspended. San Juan County Undersheriff Steve Lowrance said emergency teams should continue to manage the operation.

“We understand the public’s concern when a friend and family member is missing,” Lowrance said in a news release. “But taking on an independent search operation can cause more issues than the good that is intended, especially when it is in an unknown wilderness area to the group.”

Rescuers did not say when the search would continue.

“I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Daniel, who at this time has not yet been found,” Tyler George, the director of Silverton Medical Rescue, said in the news release. “We have had to suspend operations due to severe weather and the danger it presents to our teams.”

This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 11:57 AM with the headline "22-year-old vanished from trail run in Colorado mountains. He’s been missing 11 days."