CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Salida, Colorado
PRESS RELEASE August 25, 2016
On 08/24/16 at approximately 5:00 pm the Chaffee County Communications Center received information of a possible missing hiker on Mount Harvard. Family members reported that the hiker was dropped off at the trailhead of Mount Harvard at approximately 7:00 amon the 24th and they were to pick him up at the same location at 3:00 pm, the same day. When he did not return by 5:00 pm they notified Chaffee County authorities.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and Chaffee County Search and Rescue North responded and search and rescue sent a team of hikers into the area.
A first team of hikers summited Mount Harvard at approximately 2:20am and did not locate the missing hiker. A second search team got to the 14,200 foot level, just below the summit of Mount Harvard, at approximately 3:15 am and located the hiker who was deceased. A team of hikers stayed with the victim, who was identified as Eric A. Poehlmann, age 46, from Richmond, Vermont, as arrangements were made to remove his body.
Flight for Life was called and at approximately 6:00 am they flew to the area with additional crew and were able to land and then ferry the victim back to Buena Vista where the Chaffee County Coroner took custody of the victim.
An autopsy will be performed to determine cause of death. There were no apparent injuries that would suggest a cause of death, however foul play is not suspected.
