Vanek was wearing black stretch pants, a red shirt, a wind-breaker, hiking boots, gloves and a hat. Michelle had approximately 3-4 layers of clothes with her.
Michelle Vanek last was seen near timberline on the trail to the summit of Mount of the Holy Cross in Eagle County when</br>she sent her hiking companion ahead while she rested. There were no clues as to what happened to her. The friend stated he advised Michelle that if she wanted to head back down, to follow the trail and he would catch up with her. The friend stated that on the way down, he did not locate Michelle. The friend stated he went back up to look for her and had talked to several hikers in the area. All had told him that they had not seen her. The friend told Deputies that Michelle was a tri-athlete, but was an inexperienced high altitude hiker. During the hike, Michelle had run out of drinking water at approximately 1315 when she stopped to rest. Michelle Vanek had come up from Denver and left Half Moon Campground around 07. 00 hours to go hiking.
