The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
No sign of missing Colorado woman
A 54-year-old Littleton, Colo. woman remains missing after disappearing while hiking in the Oh-Be-Joyful wilderness area Wednesday, August 13. A major search operation was conducted Saturday but no signs of her were found and the search was called off by Saturday evening.
Sherri Ahlbrandt had started her hike about 9 a.m. with two friends. The friends hiked almost two hours before returning to the trailhead. Ahlbrandt continued on with the intention to hike up and over Daisy Pass and into Poverty Gulch. At approximately 11:57 a.m. Ahlbrandt sent a text message reading, “almost to the top.” This was the last communication made by Ahlbrandt.
According to Mt. Crested Butte police department spokesperson Marjorie Trautman, “Ahlbrandt was reported to have two jackets with her, one black and one yellow, two bottles of water, meal bars and a basic map of the area. Ahlbrandt had not hiked in the Crested Butte area previously, but is considered to be somewhat familiar with mountain hiking and in good physical condition. When we got the report about 6 o’clock Wednesday evening, Mt. Crested Butte Police Officers searched from the trailhead areas of Poverty Gulch and Oh Be Joyful until dark.”
On Thursday, the search areas were expanded with assistance from the Crested Butte Fire Protection District, Crested Butte Search & Rescue and Western State Colorado University Search & Rescue. Afternoon rain was heavy in most of the search area. On Friday, a helicopter from Eagle, Colo., additional search teams and a search dog furthered the effort, according to Trautman. A request for statewide search and rescue volunteers was made by midday on Friday.
“On Saturday, approximately 50 search and rescue volunteers gathered for briefing and search assignments,” explained Trautman. “This group was comprised of the local groups in addition to search and rescue volunteers from 15 Colorado counties and the U.S. Army. Incident Command was based in Crested Butte at the Avion airport in the Buckhorn subdivision with an auxiliary command located in Swan Basin, an area centrally located in the search area. Eight ground search teams, including two search dogs and a Chinook helicopter were deployed beginning at 8 a.m. Search and rescue volunteers were transported directly to the search area via helicopter. There was no sign of the missing hiker.”
According to the police department report, over the course of four days, extensive search and rescue efforts were made from the air, on the ground and with the use of specially trained canines. The search area covered over 250 square miles of wilderness including the areas of Erickson Springs, Dark Canyon, Devil’s Stairway, Oh Be Joyful Pass, Daisy Pass, Poverty Gulch, Democrat Basin, Slate River Road, Gunsight Pass, Peeler Pass, Peeler Basin, Buck Creek, Swan Basin, Anthracite Creek, Silver Creek and Horse Ranch Park.
This incorporates areas of the Ruby Range and Raggeds Wilderness and areas comprised of steep and difficult terrain with extreme exposure and cliffs. The search area was repeatedly covered and no indication of Ahlbrandt’s whereabouts was discovered.
The search was officially called off at 6:16 p.m. Saturday.
“This was the largest search and rescue operation in a number of years in our community,” Trautman said, “certainly in numbers of searchers and dog search teams involved and the use of helicopters. The official search was suspended on Saturday after teams literally scoured the search area and not a single sign of the missing woman was discovered. However, we understand that, unofficially, many locals, and volunteers coming from other parts of the state, have continued to search for Ms. Ahlbrandt.”
If volunteers happen upon any signs of Ms. Ahlbrandt and/or her whereabouts, please contact the Mt. Crested Butte Police Department immediately (970) 349-6516.
“It is important to clearly mark the area so it can be located again,” emphasized Trautman. “Or, if possible, obtain the GPS coordinates. Please do not disturb what you find, as this search investigation remains open.”
