ASPEN, Colo. -- A woman from Carbondale and three 9-year-old boys were missing near Independence Pass as a storm expected to dump several inches of snow moved into the area Tuesday morning.
Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Lemke said the four were on Lost Man Loop Trail, west of the pass, and were expected back at around 3 p.m. and but hadn't returned late Monday. A parent notified authorities just before 6 p.m.
While rescuers didn't find the stormy weather difficult, Lemke said they were concerned for the comfort of the group lost in the cold, dark wilderness. It was unclear if the group was properly dressed or equipped to spend the night in stormy conditions.
"They're young children, and they're likely to be scared," he said. "The parents are obviously extremely concerned for the children."
The woman was with her 9-year-old daughter, and a male and female friend of the daughter -- both 9 years old.
The 8.8-mile Lost Man has two trailheads several miles west of Independence Pass and multiple forks that provide several avenues that the group may have followed, Lemke said.
Just before midnight, crews were focusing efforts with the search dog along the Midway Trail, which can be accessed from the Lost Man Campground, according to the Aspen Times.
Search teams followed what they believed to be tracks made by some of the boys' hiking boots and sneakers as well as footprints from a small dog thought to be with the hikers, the newspaper reported in its online edition.
Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Lemke said the four were on Lost Man Loop Trail, west of the pass, and were expected back at around 3 p.m. and but hadn't returned late Monday. A parent notified authorities just before 6 p.m.
While rescuers didn't find the stormy weather difficult, Lemke said they were concerned for the comfort of the group lost in the cold, dark wilderness. It was unclear if the group was properly dressed or equipped to spend the night in stormy conditions.
"They're young children, and they're likely to be scared," he said. "The parents are obviously extremely concerned for the children."
The woman was with her 9-year-old daughter, and a male and female friend of the daughter -- both 9 years old.
The 8.8-mile Lost Man has two trailheads several miles west of Independence Pass and multiple forks that provide several avenues that the group may have followed, Lemke said.
Just before midnight, crews were focusing efforts with the search dog along the Midway Trail, which can be accessed from the Lost Man Campground, according to the Aspen Times.
Search teams followed what they believed to be tracks made by some of the boys' hiking boots and sneakers as well as footprints from a small dog thought to be with the hikers, the newspaper reported in its online edition.