The search for missing hiker Tim Cannon in the Iron Mountain area near Telluride has entered its second week and involves a large community effort.
Cannon was reported missing after he did not return home from a hike on July 8. A massive search for the Telluride local was launched by the San Miguel County Sheriff’s office, Army National Guard, and volunteers.
Cannon’s vehicle was found parked at the intersection of the Last Dollar Road and Deep Creek Road. He reportedly told his wife he planned to climb Iron Mountain, said Susan Lilly, a spokesperson for the San Miguel Sheriff’s Office.
More than 60 professional and volunteer searchers have been combing the rough terrain in the Iron Mountain, Ruffner Mountain, Campbell Mountain, Mears Peak, Whipple Mountain, Deep Creek, Remine Creek, and Sheep Creek areas.
Helicopters have been used to insert teams onto mountains and ridges in the search.
Authorized drones with cameras were flown to view inaccessible gullies and cliff areas on the flanks of Iron Mountain, and a drone with a thermal imagery camera was used in the search.
K9 Search and Rescue, of Dolores, was dispatched to the area to assist in the search last week, said Response Director Chuck Melvin.
A scent article from Cannon was introduced to K9 search dog Quiditty, who then searched the Iron Mountain area with a handler, but no evidence of the missing hiker was indicated, Melvin said. On Monday, two Telluride Ski Patrol search dogs and their handlers joined the effort.
The search intensified July 14 after a water bottle was found above the Deep Creek trail, according to the San Miguel Sheriff’s Office. On Sunday, a headlamp was also found in the Remine Creek area below the Deep Creek trail.
An experienced hiker, Cannon often goes off trail to climb peaks, Lilly said. She said Cannon had a cell phone but it was turned off, so his location could not be tracked. He left with enough gear for a day’s outing.
“There has been an enormous outpouring of support to bring Tim home,” Lilly said. “He is well-known, and the Telluride community has really come together in this time of need.”
Volunteer searchers are welcome to join the effort to find Cannon. For more information, go to the Bring Tim Home Facebook page at bit.ly/timcannon