Missing hiker found
MOUNT OF THE HOLY CROSS ” A 54-year-old hiker from Minnesota was found Thursday afternoon.
Alex Storke, missing in Holy Cross Wilderness since Tuesday, was taken to Vail Valley Medical Center, but his condition is unknown.
Storke intended to hike 14,005-foot Mount of the Holy Cross with a friend from Denver and two other men from his home state of Minnesota, Andree said. The three friends left Storke on the Half Moon Trail above timberline when he became tired.
The trio planned to summit Holy Cross and then meet up with Storke, Andree said.
When they returned around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Storke was missing. The three searched the area for five hours before calling authorities, she said.
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On Thursday, approximately 35 rescuers from Vail Mountain Rescue, Lake County and Summit County, accompanied by five dog teams, were airlifted into Holy Cross Wilderness by three Army National Guard helicopters.
Storke was lost in the same area in which Front Range resident Michelle Vanek disappeared last summer. She was not found, despite a massive search that last several days.
Staff Writer J.K. Perry can be reached at 748-2928 or jkperry@vaildaily.com.
Vail, Colorado
