Three Snowmobilers Missing in Colorado Mountains

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. – Rescue teams searched Tuesday for three snowmobilers missing since Sunday night in the mountains west of Denver.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Paulette Horr said authorities were notified about the missing men on Monday night but couldn't start searching sooner because of bad weather and avalanche danger.

About 3 feet of snow has fallen in the area since Sunday morning, said Kyle Fredin of the National Weather Service.

Authorities identified the missing men as John McKibben of Kremmling, Colo.; Murry Mellonio of Littleton, Colo.; and Greg Morris of Florida. Morris' hometown had not been released.

Horr said the men failed to return Sunday night from a planned day trip. She said three friends who were searching for the missing men got stranded at a cabin but got out late Monday night.

A cold front that moved across the state Monday dropped up to 30 inches of snow in the mountains and pummeled the Denver area with winds of 25 mph and gusts up to 45 mph.

Snow began to taper off Tuesday but up to a foot more is expected before the weather clears up by the weekend, Fredin said.

Interstate 70 reopened after being shut down in both directions about 50 miles west of Denver on Monday night because of poor visibility and bad conditions.

U.S. 287 from Ted's Place north of Fort Collins to Laramie, Wyo., remained closed Tuesday.

Colorado 65 east of Grand Junction was closed on the Grand Mesa, while in southwestern Colorado, avalanche danger closed U.S. 550 at Coal Bank, Molas, and Red Mountain passes.

U.S. 285 was closed at Kenosha Pass about 40 miles southwest of Denver.