Man spends night in Vail Valley wilderness
Vail Daily staff report
newsroom@vaildaily.com
Vail, CO Colorado
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VAIL VALLEY, Colorado— A Front Range man who fell and broke his glasses while hiking beyond a Vail Valley trailhead Sunday night found his way out of the forest Monday morning.
On Sunday night, Steven Volenec, 57, of Broomfield, was reported missing by his father-in-law, David Muller, 74, of Denver after they became separated while hiking in the area of the New York Mountain trailhead.
Due to the darkness and difficult terrain Vail Mountain Rescue Group was not able to send searchers out to look for Volenec Sunday night.
Volenec told rescuers that while hiking down the trail, he tripped, and broke his glasses. Slightly disoriented, with no glasses, and nightfall approaching he stayed put until daybreak when he was able to make his way back to the trail and down to his vehicle.
On Monday morning, search and rescue crews were heading up to the trailhead on ATVs they met Volenec driving down in his vehicle.
Dan Smith, of Vail Mountain Rescue, said Volenec, “did everything right.”
The rescue group advises that if you become lost in the backcountry, do not continue on. Retrace your route back toward the trailhead until you pick up the trail or find someone who knows the area. If you cannot retrace your route, stay put, conserve energy and water, make yourself visible, and await rescue.