Denver hiker’s suspected remains found in the San Juan Mountains

HINSDALE COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The suspected remains of a missing Denver hiker were found in the San Juan Mountains near Lake City in Hinsdale County on Tuesday.

Ben Brownlee, 26, was reported missing late Sunday night. He had last been seen by another hiker in the general area east of Redcloud Peak near Lake City.

Brownlee was an experienced and avid hiker, according to authorities. His plan was to hike 13,000-foot peaks in the Lake City area of the San Juan Mountains.

The Hinsdale County Sheriff Department located his car at the trailhead of Redcloud and Sunshine Peak early Monday morning. Helicopter sweeps and on-the-ground searches covered the area where Brownlee indicated he would be hiking. 

The search continued Tuesday with more than a dozen search and rescue personnel on foot along with Brownlee’s family and friends, according to a post on the Hinsdale County Office of Emergency Management Facebook page.

The post said a body matching Brownlee’s description was located by helicopter around 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The body was spotted and identified by friends in a private helicopter chartered by his family. They saw the body about 75 to 100 feet below a steep rocky ridge southeast of Cooper Creek Peak. 

Authorities said Brownlee’s family was notified immediately.

The Hinsdale County Office of Emergency Management said the recovery of the body on Wednesday will require specialized technical operations.