Missing hiker found uninjured near Paonia

By Staff
Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A 65-year-old woman, Sharon Popish-Butcher of Paonia, was found safe Monday morning after spending the night on Mount Lamborn near Paonia, said Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee.

McKee said Popish-Butcher went for a hike on the mountain Sunday afternoon with a friend, but fell behind around 1:30 p.m. and told her friend she intended to hike cross-country back to her home on German Creek Road.

When she hadn’t reached home by 6 p.m. Sunday, Popish-Butcher’s husband called authorities and a massive ground and air search of the area began and continued until about midnight.

The search resumed at daybreak Monday and Popish-Butcher was found on the mountain at approximately 9:30 a.m., McKee said. She was cold and tired but otherwise uninjured, he said.