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Colorado Man Abandoned by Co-Workers on Mountain Survives Storm and Night Alone

An injured Colorado man spent a harrowing night alone on Mount Shavano after his co-workers left him behind during an office retreat, while a strong storm pummeled the area.

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In a tale that might cause some awkward encounters at the office in the near future, an injured Colorado man had to weather a storm and survive a night alone on a mountain after his co-workers left him behind during an office retreat.

The man was part of a group of 15 co-workers who had set off to summit Mount Shavano on Friday, the Chaffee County Search and Rescue South said. However, as the group made their way down the mountain, the man, who was wearing all black, became disoriented and lost his way.

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He found that belongings left in the boulder field to mark the path for the descent had been picked up by the previous group as they hiked down. As he tried to descend on his own, the hiker found himself in the steep boulder and scree field on the northeast slope toward Shavano Lake.

Concerned for his safety, he sent a pin drop (specific location mark on a map) to co-workers already descending, who informed him his route was wrong and to climb back up the slope to regain the trail. However, the man was left to summit the mountain on his own while the rest of his co-workers descended.

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As the man neared the trail at around 3:50 p.m., he sent another pin drop and text to his group. Shortly after sending the message, however, a strong storm pummeled the area with freezing rain and high winds, officials said. The storm disoriented the man further and cut off his cell service.

Search and rescuers received the call about the overdue hiker at 9 p.m., responding with two hasty teams and a drone pilot. Crews worked throughout the night, but high winds and freezing rain prevented them from reaching the summit.

The following morning, the man regained enough cell service to call 911 for help. He was found above the North Fork drainage in a gully below Esprit Point. The man told rescuers that he had become disoriented and fallen at least 20 times during his attempt to descend alone. He said that after his last fall, he was unable to get up.

"This hiker was phenomenally lucky to have regained cell service when he did, and to still have enough consciousness and wherewithal to call 911," rescuers said. "Though he was located in a tertiary search area, it would have been some time before teams made it to that location on their own."

Search and rescue officials urged hikers to stay with a partner and pack bright clothing along with other essentials when setting off in the backcountry.