A 60-year-old hiker has been unaccounted for in the Lake Tahoe area for nearly a week, prompting local law enforcement to urgently search for him.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking assistance in locating the missing man, identified as Jason Colan, who was last seen on May 25th around 4 p.m.
“The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office needs your help. Our team and search and rescue personnel are conducting operations in the Desolation Wilderness. We are currently searching for Jason Colan,” they stated.
“The last known sighting of him was on May 25, 2026, around 4 p.m. If you were hiking in the area and saw Jason, please reach out to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office at 530-621-6600 or 530-573-3051.”
Colan is described as being 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing around 150 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes, and possessing an athletic build.
Details regarding his attire at the time of his disappearance remain unclear. However, authorities suspect he could have been dressed in khaki shorts and a blue-and-white long-sleeved shirt.
A person claiming to be a friend of Colan mentioned on Reddit that over 100 trained professionals were involved in the search. She expressed her desire to assist while also letting the experts do their work.
“It pains me to say this, but I really want to go out and help look for him too. We’re supporting Jason by keeping off the trails to allow the experts to collect necessary data on where he might have gone,” she stated.
“They’re utilizing trackers and dogs to search for footprints. The less activity there is in those areas, the more likely they are to uncover clues about his whereabouts.”
In another post, the same friend indicated she was attempting to track him using her Apple Watch, sharing a photo that was reportedly taken near Lake Angola. Commenters noted the change in weather conditions in the region, which had gone from mild to windy and cold since Colan’s last sighting.
The Desolation Wilderness is characterized as 63,960 acres of stunning subalpine and alpine forests, granite peaks, and glacier-formed valleys and lakes.
