CRESTONE– A second day of searching for climber Luis Corkern, 41, resulted in finding the hiker’s body in the Kit Carson/Challenger Point area, according to a Facebook post by the Saguache County Sheriff’s Department (SCSD).

He was reported to have ascended Kit Carson via the north ridge route on Saturday, making the summit about 4 p.m. He planned to descend via the Challenger Point and the standard route but had not returned to his vehicle at the trailhead.

The body was discovered by a Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (CDFPC) helicopter as they were inserting rescue personnel into the area. The subject apparently fell from the ridge down the Kirk Couloir which lies between Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point.

A technical rescue team from Custer County Search and Rescue was air lifted to the area by DFPC Helitac 28. The team climbed to the subject location, where with the assistance of Helitac 28, Corkern’s remains were lifted from the mountain.

SCSD and Saguache County Search and Rescue thanked all the cooperating agencies involved including Custer County SAR, Alamosa County SAR, CDFPC, REACH Air Medical Services, Colorado SAR Association and U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Condolences were sent to the family and friends of Luis Corkern.