A group of nine hikers was rescued near Indian Creek Campground in the Rampart Range area last week.

According to a Facebook post from Douglas County Search and Rescue (DCSAR), preliminary information indicated that a group of students and Douglas County School District staff had gone on a hike but did not return by a predetermined check-in time.

Because of the group’s size and the urgency of the situation, personnel from ten agencies mobilized resources, with multiple ground, K9, ATV, and UAV (drone) teams immediately deployed to being searching. Throughout the search, rescuers determined that the group had split into two separate groups along the trail system between Indian Creek Campground and Waterton Canyon near Lenny’s Rest.

A Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and DCSAR drone team located one of the missing groups and was able to communicate with them through the drone’s speaker system. The hikers confirmed through hand gestures that they were not hurt, and the size of the group was verified. The drone team told the group to stay in the shade, and a mixed-agency ground rescue team reached the hikers soon after and led them out of the area.

At roughly the same time, ground search teams found the second missing group near Lenny’s Rest and safely escorted them out.

“We are incredibly grateful for the positive outcome of this mission and the safe rescue of all missing hikers,” DCSAR wrote in the Facebook post. “The success of this operation was made possible through outstanding teamwork, coordination, and partnerships across a large multi-agency response.”

DCSAR also noted that is was valuable that the group left an anticipated check-in time because it allowed rescuers to “respond quickly and begin searching expediently.”

It’s also worth noting that splitting up on the trail can lead to issues, as it can mean tracking down two or more groups if something goes wrong opposed to one. Details regarding why this group split up and whether or not that was planned ahead of time were not included in the report on the matter. That said, this is something to keep in mind when hitting the trail.

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