Law enforcement authorities in Colorado are investigating the discovery of three “mummified” bodies found by a hiker at a remote campsite in the Rocky Mountains. On Sunday, July 9, the hiker reportedly came across a heavily decomposed body near the Gold Creek Campground 27 miles northeast of Gunnison, and two more bodies were located by members of The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office the following day, according to a Facebook post shared by the Office. The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office believes there is no immediate danger to others, as there were no signs of trauma on the bodies.
“Whether they froze to death in the winter or the combination of starved or froze, that’s what it sure seems like,” Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie said in an interview with the Associated Press.
The identities of the deceased individuals are being withheld until their next of kin are notified. Autopsies will be conducted to determine the cause of death, but the process is expected to take several weeks. Murdie said that the bodies appeared to have been at the campsite for an extended period, possibly since last fall. Authorities suspect that malnutrition and exposure played a role in their deaths.
The remote campsite, Gold Creek Campground, is situated in the Gunnison National Forest, accessed via a seven-mile dirt road. The campground offers six campsites and a vault toilet, providing a gateway to the picturesque Fossil Creek Wilderness. Outside Online reports that the area encompasses 32,000 acres of forests, mountains, and alpine lakes, with 26 miles of non-motorized trails to explore. Notably, hikers can reach the summit of Square Top Mountain, which stands at 12,500 feet and offers panoramic views of Colorado’s fourteeners. Presently, the campground is listed as “closed due to inaccessibility” by the Forest Service.
