A hiker missing since Wednesday was found Friday morning after an intensive search in the mountains in the Taylor Mesa area east of Stoner.
Ron Nurnberg, 71, of Cortez, reportedly suffered numerous scrapes and abrasions during his two-day ordeal but had no major injuries.
He was found on Stoner Mesa after activating his SPOT Locator, said Todd Jones, Rico fire chief, who helped in the search.
“Once it was turned on, the search helicopter honed in on the GPS coordinates,” he said. “He was quite a ways away from where he parked his truck.”
It wasn’t clear why the SPOT unit was not turned on earlier.
Several ground search crews were involved, including the Dolores County Sheriff’s Office, United Search and Rescue, Rico Fire Department, San Miguel Search and Rescue, Dolores Fire Protection District and K-9 search and rescue. Thirty people were involved in the ground search. They also rescued a dog Nurnberg had taken on the hike but had gotten separated from.
A helicopter and crew also participated in the search for Nurnberg. And communications were aided by two F-16 fighter jets in the area from Buckley Air Force Base, search officials said.
On Wednesday, the man’s truck was found parked about eight miles up Forest Service Road 545 – Taylor Mesa Road – and the search spread out from there, covering the Priest Gulch, Calico and Stoner trail areas.
Nurnberg is an avid hiker who has a preference for loop hikes, officials said. He had no overnight gear. He was reported missing by his wife.
The Durango Herald contributed to this report.
