A Denver hiker’s body was recovered in a remote Colorado canyon after officials traced an abandoned vehicle to the site. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the discovery on Wednesday.
Search Suspended Overnight, Remains Located Next Morning
Deputies were notified last Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. of an abandoned vehicle parked near mile marker 10 along the South Rim of Black Canyon. Personal belongings were also found near Devil’s Lookout, one of the park’s steepest viewing points.
The sheriff’s office deployed a drone team to search the canyon for a possible missing person linked to the vehicle. Nightfall halted the operation due to diminishing daylight, officials said.
At approximately 6:30 a.m. the following day, the drone team confirmed human remains on the canyon floor.
The remains were identified as John N. Countryman, 57, of Denver, according to a Facebook post by park officials. Countryman’s body was retrieved two days later and transferred to the Montrose County Coroner’s Office.
The cause and manner of death remain under investigation, authorities noted.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park features steep, narrow gorges carved by the Gunnison River, with dramatic drop‑offs and rugged terrain that complicate search and rescue efforts.
