Hunter found dead after expedition in Great Sand Dunes National Park

A hunter’s body was recovered in a rugged area of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve earlier this month during a rescue operation involving teams from Saguache, Alamosa and Chaffee counties.

Lance Walker of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was separated from his hunting group Oct. 30 while navigating the north side of the park in Saguache County, according to a statement from Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue.

The next morning, when Walker failed to show up at their camp, other members of the group used a satellite communicator to alert rescuers. Walker’s brother went out to search for him on foot.

Later that day, Walker’s brother informed rescuers that he had located the body, and more than 20 members of search and rescue teams from three counties responded to the area. Walker’s body was extracted Nov. 1 with support from national park and state personnel as well as REACH Air Medical Services.

“We cannot thank enough all the responding teams and assets for their help in getting this man home to his family after such a tragic accident,” Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue said in its statement.

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