With help from the military, rescue workers early Sunday located two women who spent three nights lost in the Weminuche Wilderness northeast of Vallecito Reservoir.
La Plata County Search and Rescue was notified Friday night of the two women who became separated from another member in their party and had not returned as expected, said Butch Knowlton, director of search and rescue.
They were near Dollar Lake and Cave Basin, which is past the end of Middle Mountain Road.
The women were on what was supposed to be a short hike with two llamas, he said.
A Flight For Life helicopter and numerous search-and-rescue members were unable to locate the women Saturday.
La Plata County Search and Rescue requested help from the military, which can fly at night and has equipment to conduct nighttime searches, Knowlton said.
“They were spotted by military aircraft very early this morning (Sunday) and brought out of the wilderness,” he said.
The mission came to an end about 5 a.m. Sunday, he said.
Neither woman was injured.
Knowlton did not have the names of the women, but said one was local and the other was visiting.
shane@durangoherald.com
