Bodies of missing snowboarders found

CREEDE, Colo. ” The bodies of two New Mexico men last seen snowboarding at Wolf Creek Ski Resort in January have been found.

On Monday, a helicopter found and removed the bodies of 27-year-olds Michael George and Kyle Kerschen, both of Albuquerque, Mineral County Sheriff Fred Hosselkus said in a statement.

“We’re thankful we found them and they were together,” said George’s mother, Laura George.

She said the men’s bodies were found in an area outside the boundaries of the ski resort.

George and Kerschen vanished Jan. 5 near the resort about 170 miles southwest of Denver. An extensive search on the snow covered slopes was called off after six days.

The childhood buddies apparently became disoriented in whiteout conditions and tried to snowboard down the wrong side of the mountain in a steep and rugged area known as Knife’s Edge, Laura George said.

Searchers found both men on the south slope of the mountain about 900 feet below Knife’s Edge, she said. The ski resort is on the north side of the mountain.

Michael George was found sitting against a tree with his snowboard removed, while Kershen was found a short distance farther down the mountain, Laura George said.

Autopsies have not yet been performed.

Messages for Hosselkus and the ski resort were not immediately returned.