A missing hiker was found dead Monday after failing to return from a camping trip, Boulder County officials said.

Around 11:30 a.m. Monday, Boulder County sheriff’s officials received a call about a man who had failed to return from his camping trip in Indian Peaks Wilderness, according to a Wednesday news release from the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s officials said the camper — an unidentified 36-year-old man — was supposed to return from his camping trip on Monday. When he didn’t check in or show up, family members reported him missing.

The missing man’s car was found in the parking lot of Brainard Lake, prompting Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services to initiate a search, sheriff’s officials said Wednesday.

Based on reports from the family about the hiker’s plans and using information from the man’s Garmin GPS device, search and rescue crews — including ground searchers, dog teams and a helicopter — combed the surrounding area.

Around 5:30 p.m. Monday, search teams found a dead body near Lake Isabelle — at the base of Shoshoni Peak — who is believed to be the missing camper, sheriff’s officials said.

“Due to the remote location and technical terrain, it was unsafe to conduct the recovery operation that night,” sheriff’s officials stated Thursday.

Rescuers from the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group and a helicopter from the Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control returned Tuesday to recover the man’s body and took him to the Boulder County Coroner’s Office, according to sheriff’s officials.

The coroner’s office will identify the man and release the cause and manner of death at a later date. Sheriff’s officials said they don’t currently believe his death was suspicious.

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Originally Published: August 28, 2024 at 10:51 a.m.