Denver Man’s Body Recovered From Black Canyon Floor After Three-Day Operation
Three-day operation follows discovery of abandoned vehicle at Devil's Lookout
A recovery team spent two days hauling the body of a Denver man from the floor of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, concluding an operation that began when deputies found his abandoned vehicle near the South Rim.
John N. Countryman, 57, was identified Thursday by the Montrose County Coroner’s Office. His vehicle had been spotted near mile marker 10 on October 27, with personal belongings discovered nearby at Devil’s Lookout — a viewpoint perched more than 1,800 feet above the Gunnison River.
A drone search that evening came up empty as daylight faded. The next morning at 6:30 a.m., a drone operator confirmed human remains on the canyon floor. The recovery, hampered by the park’s notorious terrain, wrapped up October 30.
Black Canyon’s inner routes are steep, unmarked, and require special wilderness permits. Loose rock, sheer drop-offs, and nonexistent cell service make any descent treacherous, let alone a technical recovery. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office has not disclosed what led to Countryman’s death.
The coroner’s investigation into the cause and manner of death remains open.
