All-Women Team Returns to Search for Michelle Vanek
A search-and-rescue group of women went back to Colorado's Mount of the Holy Cross in 2024 to look for a woman who vanished there in 2005.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Women’s Issues
In 2024, an all-women rescue team returned to Colorado's Mount of the Holy Cross to search for Michelle Vanek, a 35-year-old mother of four who disappeared on the peak in 2005. No trace of her was found after the original search, which involved helicopters, dogs, and hundreds of rescuers.
Why it matters
The renewed search revisits a two-decade-old disappearance on one of Colorado's well-known peaks, drawing attention to an unresolved case. It also highlights the role of volunteer search-and-rescue efforts in cases that official searches did not resolve.
Michelle Vanek disappeared in 2005 at age 35 while hiking with a friend who she split up from on the mountain. No trace of her was found after the original search, which used helicopters, dogs, and hundreds of rescuers.
The players
Vail Mountain Rescue Team
A volunteer search-and-rescue organization based in Vail, Colorado, that assists in mountain rescues in the surrounding high country.
Scott Beebe
A pastor and experienced search-and-rescue volunteer who inspired the all-women team to return to Mount of the Holy Cross after a dream.
The details
Pastor Scott Beebe, an experienced search-and-rescue volunteer, dreamt that Michelle Vanek asked to be found by women, and he took the dream as a calling. He inspired an all-women rescue team, including members of the Vail Mountain Rescue Team, to return to the mountain in 2024 and continue the search.
Timeline
2005: Michelle Vanek disappears on Mount of the Holy Cross.
2024: The all-women rescue team returns to the mountain to search for her.
Culture Shift
The all-women team's return to Mount of the Holy Cross reflects women taking visible leadership roles in mountain search-and-rescue work, traditionally a male-dominated field. Their effort places a 2005 disappearance in a new light as community volunteers reexamine cases that official searches left unresolved.
Colorado hikers and backcountry visitors may see the search's focus on the Mount of the Holy Cross as a reminder to hike with a partner and share their plans. Volunteer search-and-rescue teams like the Vail Mountain Rescue Team depend on public involvement and support to respond to these cases.
The takeaway
Long-unresolved disappearances can still draw renewed effort from volunteers who refuse to give up on finding answers. Hikers planning backcountry trips in Colorado can reduce risk by sharing their route and turnaround time with someone before they set out.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Women's Issues stories from across Colorado.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BBC.
