James Shadid, 79, was reported missing on September 3, 2023, after he failed to return from a short hunting scout trip near Purgatory Resort in the San Juan Mountains outside Durango, Colorado. An experienced outdoorsman, he left a family member his vehicle and intended to be gone about 90 minutes while scouting for elk between Little Elk Creek Trail and Elbert Creek Road. He was last seen wearing a tan safari-style hat and khaki pants and, uncharacteristically, took no supplies.

La Plata County Search and Rescue and dozens of volunteers mounted an extensive effort with helicopters, drones, K9 teams, horseback and ATV teams, and foot searches. Despite searches that at times involved 50 to 55 volunteers in a day, few clues turned up. After eight days the organized search was suspended and reclassified as a search and recovery; authorities remained willing to follow new leads and encouraged safe independent searching.

The family thanked the search teams and the community. In the absence of confirmed answers, they take some comfort in believing Shadid is at rest in the mountains he loved. Did anyone in the Durango area see James on or after September 3, 2023, or have information about the Little Elk Creek Trail or Elbert Creek Road that could help?