Hikers Rescued On Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, Near Conifer Hill Road

BOULDER, CO — On Sunday, Boulder County Communications received two reports of hikers in need of assistance within half an hour of each other – and both hikers are now safe.

The first came at around 11:48 a.m., when the department was notified of a possible missing woman in the northwest part of Boulder County.

Responding Boulder County Sheriff's Office deputies were told that a 69-year-old woman had likely been missing for 24 hours, and the officers were unable to locate her in an initial search around the Conifer Hill Road area.

Officials deployed unmanned Aerial Systems, canine teams and ground searchers, and after almost three hours of searching one of the canine teams located the missing woman upon hearing a voice calling for help.

"The missing female reported she had been lost since Friday after taking a wrong turn while hiking off trail. The female was uninjured but was fatigued and dehydrated," a report from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office said. "Searchers provided her with food and water, after which her energy improved."

Searchers then helped the woman leave the wilderness and return to her residence, and she declined any additional medical care, the report said.

At around 12:27 p.m., while the search for the woman was taking place, Boulder County Communications was notified of a hiker who had fallen and injured his head at the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail in Eldorado Canyon State Park.

A 74-year-old man was hiking when he fell approximately 50 feet. He injured his head and shoulder and was unable to walk out to the trailhead, another Boulder County Sheriff's Office report said.

"Rescuers from Rocky Mountain Rescue Group packaged the injured party into a bean bag splint and litter," the report said.

He was then transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further medical care.