Boulder County, Colo. - Search and rescue crews have conducted an extensive search in heavy winter conditions for the 27-year-old missing hiker, Josh Hall, who was reported as overdue on the evening of Wednesday, February 3. He departed from the Hessie Trailhead near Nederland, where his vehicle was later found. His cell phone last pinged near the Devil’s Thumb Trail/Diamond Lake cut-off.

After multiple days of searching, we have made the difficult decision to suspend ground search efforts, until such time as new information surfaces, or until snow melt occurs, increasing safety and searching becomes more feasible.

We continue to work with our aviation partners to try and search from the air if a weather window presents itself. Today, a Flight for Life helicopter flew up into the area based on possible improvement in weather conditions but were unable to search as a result of high winds.

Searchers have checked accessible cabins and mine shafts along the 4th of July Road and along the Devils Thumb Lake Trail below the Diamond Lake cutoff, that they were physically able to reach.

We continue to ask anyone recreating in that area to let us know if you come across any discarded clothing items or a dog leash. Please contact Boulder County dispatch at 303-441-4444.

The following organizations have assisted us in this search: Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Alpine Rescue Team, Larimer County Search and Rescue, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, Front Range Rescue Dogs, Nederland Fire Protection District, Boulder Emergency Squad, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Air Force Resource Coordination Center, Flight for Life Colorado, and the City of Boulder Watershed. Thank you to Boulder Valley School District for allowing us to use Nederland High School for staging equipment and giving the family a warm place to wait.

Approximately 70 rescuers have assisted in this effort between Wednesday night to Saturday evening, which resulted in more than 650 person hours of searching.

The associated Boulder County Sheriff's Office case number is: #21-659.