Nature has a way of being both breathtaking and brutal, often in the same breath. You’ve probably heard the names Ian Stasko and Andrew Porter mentioned in hushed tones if you spend any time in hunting forums or hiking groups. Honestly, their story is one of those that sticks with you because they weren't reckless. They weren't "city kids" who got lost in the woods. They were experienced, 25-year-old outdoorsmen who did almost everything right—and still, the unexpected found them.
It was September 2025. The air in southern Colorado’s Rio Grande National Forest was starting to get that sharp, pre-winter bite. Ian and Andrew, who had been friends since their high school days back at Albemarle High in Virginia, were out for an elk hunt. This wasn't a casual weekend trip; they had spent a month hunting the Crazy Mountains in Montana the year before. They knew the drill.
The Search for Ian Stasko and Andrew Porter
The timeline is kinda haunting when you look at the digital breadcrumbs they left behind. On September 11, Andrew sent a final ping from his Garmin InReach satellite device to his fiancée, Bridget Murphy. It was a standard "here's where we are" update. Nothing seemed wrong.
When they didn't check in at the predetermined time, the alarm bells didn't just ring—they screamed. By September 13, deputies from the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office were at the Rio de los Pinos Trailhead. They found the truck. Inside were their backpacks and camping gear. Now, to a casual observer, that might seem normal, but to a hunter, it’s a red flag. Why would they go back out into a storm without their main packs?
The weather turned into what locals described as a "nightmare." Heavy rain. Wind gusts hitting 50 mph. And, most importantly, a massive amount of lightning.
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For nearly a week, a massive search operation took over the San Juans. We're talking 70+ people, drones, helicopters, and K9 units scouring terrain that sits well above 10,000 feet. There was even a moment of hope when another group of hunters reported seeing the pair on the morning of September 12 at the Spruce Hole Trailhead. They were reportedly "alive and well," mentionining they’d seen a bull moose and were heading back out to track it.
What the Investigation Revealed
On Thursday, September 18, the search ended in the way everyone feared. Search and rescue teams located the bodies of Ian Stasko and Andrew Porter about two miles from the trailhead. They were found close together under a tree.
Initially, there was a lot of confusion. The coroner, Richard Martin, noted there were no obvious signs of trauma or foul play. In the high country, when two healthy young men die suddenly, people start thinking about hypothermia or even carbon monoxide if they were in a tent. But they weren't in a tent. They were found in their hunting clothes, with very little gear on them.
The answer came a few days later: lightning.
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It sounds like something out of a freak accident movie, but the reality is more clinical. The coroner described "slight burns" on their bodies—the kind of marks you'd get if you touched a hot match to your skin for a split second. Their deaths were likely instantaneous. As the coroner put it, "It's like you're alive and now you're not."
Why This Case Matters for Every Outdoorsman
Most people think they know how to handle a storm. You stay low, you avoid the lone tree, you get off the ridge. But Ian Stasko and Andrew Porter weren't amateurs. They were likely just trying to get back to the car as the storms rolled in.
There is a specific kind of danger in the South San Juan Wilderness. The terrain is "bowl" shaped in many areas. To get back to the trailhead, you often have to climb up out of a valley to reach the path home. If a fast-moving cell hits while you're on that ascent, you are essentially a lightning rod.
The reality is that lightning can travel miles ahead of a storm cloud. You don't even have to be in the rain to be in danger. This is a sobering reminder that sometimes, nature doesn't care how much experience you have or how many times you've scouted the unit.
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Actionable Insights for High-Altitude Safety
If you're planning a trip into the backcountry, specifically in the Colorado high country, there are a few things to take away from this tragedy that could actually save your life.
- The "Noon Rule" is Real: In the Rockies, storms almost always build in the afternoon. If you aren't headed toward lower ground or cover by 1:00 PM, you're playing a dangerous game with the odds.
- Ditch the Metal: If you're caught in a lightning storm, get away from your bow, your rifle, and your trekking poles. Move at least 100 feet away from them.
- The Lightning Position: If you can't get to a vehicle or a deep cave (not a shallow overhang, which can actually be worse), crouch down on the balls of your feet. Minimize your contact with the ground. Do not lay flat.
- Satellite Messaging Isn't a Shield: Garmin devices are great for recovery, but they don't help much in an instant-onset event. Always have a "turn-back" time that is independent of how much fun you're having or what animal you're tracking.
Ian Stasko and Andrew Porter were two friends doing what they loved. Their story isn't a cautionary tale of "what not to do," but rather a testament to the fact that the wilderness carries inherent risks that no amount of prep can fully eliminate.
If you're heading out this season, check the NOAA forecasts specifically for "lightning density" in your zones. Don't just look at the rain percentage. Lightning can be bone-dry and just as deadly. Stay safe out there.
Check the local Colorado Search and Rescue (SAR) bulletins before your next trek to see current trail conditions and high-altitude weather alerts.