Paonia woman safe after night in the cold

PAONIA — She got turned around on Mount Lamborn, but a 65-year-old Paonia woman is safe and sound, Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee said.

Sharon Popish-Butcher became lost Sunday while walking with a friend.

“Her walking partner said she was there one minute and then she wasn’t,” McKee said Monday.

A massive search was launched after Popish-Butcher’s husband reported her missing.

“Due to possible medical conditions, we had a sizable crew from the Delta Search and Rescue, Paonia Fire, West Elk Rescue and Delta sheriff’s personnel. (They) went into that rugged mountain area and conducted a search until about midnight,” McKee said.

The search was suspended overnight, but resumed at 6 a.m. Monday, at which time it included aircraft and a request for a Civil Air Patrol helicopter.

Popish-Butcher was located about three hours later.

“She was tired and cold, but safe,” McKee said.

He said Popish-Butcher got confused and accidentally veered off the main hiking trail to her location “quite a way” up the mountain. It took rescuers three hours to hike out with her, McKee said.