Poor Weather Ends Active Search For Missing Hunter

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah – Poor weather conditions ended active search efforts of a missing hunter near the Lyman Lake area of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

The command post located about two miles from 69-year-old Carl Crumrine’s last known location was closed down Sunday morning due to heavy overnight snowfall, strong winds, and low temperatures.

Carl Crumrine has been missing since the early morning of Monday October 14^th.

“The wind chill apparently was minus four, so it’s very cold for anyone, even with proper gear,” said Lt. Andrew Wright from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. “That is a very cold environment to be in.”

Search crews at the command post reported snowfall of more than 10 inches making it very difficult for foot and horse volunteers to continue their efforts.

“As of this morning we had about nine searchers up there who will assist with any information that continues to come in but also to start breaking down our command center,” Wright said.

Carl Crumrine is from West Virginia.

Paul Crumrine, Carl Crumrine’s son, flew in last week to help with search efforts.

On Sunday, he declined an on-camera interview but said he held out hope to find his father and would continue searching the next few days, as long as weather permitted.

“My dad is a good man, he was doing what he loved,” Paul Crumrine said.

Paul Crumrine also expressed his gratitude for the many search efforts, rescue teams, and volunteers who showed up to help.

“The people up there really cared about finding my dad. There were so many emotions and they’ve never met him,” Paul Crumrine said. “If it weren’t for the bad weather, I know they would’ve kept looking. We didn’t get to cover all that we wanted.”

According to Paul, some 50 people per day helped in scouting about 100 miles.

“We’ve had six days of many resources from different counties throughout the state, state agencies,” Wright said. “We’ve had the air national guard, we’ve had private canine teams, a lot of personnel on the ground.”

Search crews included dozens of personnel from Summit County Search and Rescue, and volunteers from the Garrett Bardsley Foundation.

According to Wright, rescue crews will still be made available to search areas of possible sighting reports.

“We encourage people if they come across anything to do their best to mark it on a GPS if they have the ability to,” Wright said. “The chances of finding him? I don’t know. It’s unknown at this point but we are hoping that we can find him, we are hoping someone comes across him as the hunts continue.”

Anyone with information can contact the Summit County Sheriff’s Office at 435-615-3600 or 435-615-3526.

According to a missing adult flyer from the Summitt County Sheriff’s Office, Carl Crumrine was last seen wearing a camo shirt, coat, pants and hunter orange vest with black.

He left his campsite on foot and was last known to be walking towards Lyman Lake.

“We understand the heartache that comes with not having any answered questions, where what happened? Where is he? And so that is our number one answer is to provide answers for the family,” Wright said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover travel costs for Carl Crumrine’s family.

According to Paul Crumrine, the rest of the donations will be given to the Summit County Search and Rescue Team.