A 26-year-old hiker from Denver who was reported missing in the San Juan Mountains near Lake City in southern Colorado has been found dead, the Hinsdale County Office of Emergency Management said Wednesday.

Ben Brownlee, 26, was reported missing Sunday after failing to return from a solo hiking trip.

Brownlee was described as “an experienced and avid hiker” and was last seen by another hiker about 11:30 a.m. Saturday when he was descending Unnamed Peak 13,832.

He told other hikers he already summited Unnamed Peak 13,811 and was en route to Redcloud.

Brownlee’s itinerary was to hike 13,000-foot peaks in the Lake City area.

Brownlee’s vehicle was found at the Burrows Park parking area on County Road 30 at the trailhead of Redcloud and Sunshine peaks.

The search for Brownlee began Monday on the ground and in the air and continued into Tuesday with more than a dozen personnel as well as Brownlee’s family and friends.

Brownlee’s body was found by a private helicopter chartered by his family, county officials said. Friends spotted and identified the body about 5 p.m.

It was found about 75 to 100 feet below a steep rocky ridge southeast of Cooper Creek Peak.

The ridge is between Cooper Creek and Silver Creek trails southwest of Lake City.

The recovery of Brownlee’s body began Wednesday morning.