June 21, 2013
Custer County Search and Rescue responded to a call of a missing teen from the Davenport Campground near Bishop’s Castle, on Saturday June 22nd.
The 14 year old boy had left the family’s campsite around 7 am and failed to return. Family members initiated a hasty search of their own at 9 am, with three ATVs and approximately ten family members searching for the boy. Some seven hours later, the family made contact with the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, who called out the local SAR team and placed additional Pueblo county resources on standby.
The Davenport Campground area connects many ATV and single track trails, as well as hiking trails. The majority of these trails ultimately head east into Pueblo Mountain Park near Beulah.
With some five hours of daylight remaining, CCSAR responded with 14 field and two office personal, along with four ATVs. An additional eight members from Pueblo County SAR were fielded from Pueblo Mountain Park to work the trails from the east, while CCSAR teams worked the search area from the campground outward. Shortly before midnight, teams were called back to their respective bases. Additional resources, including a canine team were requested for day two.
Sunday’s field operations began shortly after 6am, which included 11 CCSAR field and two office personel1, along with three ATVs. Eight members from Pueblo County SAR and three members from Fremont County SAR, along with a four member canine unit from Crested Butte were also fielded. Just after 7am and 24hours from the time he went missing, the youth walked back into camp uninjured and in general good health. The mission involved 227 man hours, as well as additional law enforcement resources.
Field Operations Day 2
5am briefing at SAR base on Sunday am CCSAR and Pueblo SAR personnel
Gary Stamm Saturday night operations
