Howdy neighbor! :happydance:
I too am from El Paso, barely...I am up the pass much closer to Teller county. While I do agree that there are very friendly people here in Colorado (one of the many reasons I love it here), we are also over ridden with transients in our mountains and forested areas (our state is rather tolerant of this btw). I'm not trying to say that transients are bad people, however I am far less likely to trust a transient personally.
While I'll be the first one to brag about our beautiful hiking and friendly people, crystal clear water, bluer than blue skies! We have the perfect places to camp and hide out. That being said, I hope that's what Joe's doing also! Anyway, since I didn't grow up here-I will say that the people up here are very different. Not in a bad way-just different, they're mountain folk. I have been told many, many, many times that I stick out like a sore thumb lol. I have lived here for several years already and definitely feel like a mountain girl now, but clearly I'm still the "different one". I apologize for replying to this so late, I am still playing catch-up and wanted to add my 2 cents!
This is all my very humble opinion only!
Hello!

I don't think Joe would stick out in Conejos County.
There are many young tourists that come to the cabins and mountain ranges on vacation in Conejos County.
Here in Colorado Springs, just the other day, I noticed two individual men without shirts running the trails in North Cheyenne Canon by Starsmore Discovery Center. They were running the lower trails near the base of North Cheyenne Canon, which is in the city.
They were running individually, which is fine because there are Many people that walk and hike the trails there.
I don't know what makes you stand out in El Paso County.
For an outdoor person such as I am, I fit right in. I also fit in wearing "business attire" as well when I was working. I am retired.
Joe fits right in, as he is athletic, likes to run, and I wouldn't think twice about seeing him running
in Conejos County. Now, running at Night, without a Shirt, when the temps change is Not a good idea.
That would make me Pause... the weather can turn on a dime, you just don't know.
For Joe to be running without a shirt, to me, tells me, that most likely he wasn't going to be gone for long in Horca, Colorado. He probably was going to jog/run for just an hour. If he was going to jog/run/hike what have you in the Valley or higher up in the mountains, STARTING at 4:30PM, he would have thought to bring along additional clothing, in my opinion, as the weather can change.
Also, he knew he would be eating dinner after the jog/run, so to me, it doesn't make sense that he would go off on a jog/run for hours.
As you know, we have had a Crazy year weather wise, and the last several years, between the fires and the floods, it has not been easy for El Paso County.
I understand that there are transients in El Paso County. El Paso County has way over a half million people.
For one, transients, are on street corners by Walmarts, shopping centers, and the like, looking for donations$$$. It is sad. Times have been tough employment wise for Colorado Springs over the last 7 years.
I imagine it is the same for other towns in El Paso County.
Although I saw a news report that Woodland Park is really doing a lot better with tourism this year and that's great. I don't know how other parts of Teller County are doing.
Cripple Creek (casinos) is not busy like it used to be in the 1990's, or early 2000's.
The economy has taken hits through the years.
Also, because pot has been legalized, there are out of state people that come to Colorado for that Rocky Mountain High.
Some could be transients.
I don't know about the stats on transients in Conejos County.
There is a lot of forestry land.
Personally, I don't think it was a transient that kidnapped Joe, if Joe was kidnapped.
What would they do with Joe? It doesn't make sense to me, in my opinion.
If he was kidnapped for money, then where's the ransom note? I haven't heard about one
in MSM. Why would they pick Joe? Why would they pick Joe so close to the Rainbow Trout Ranch?
IMOO.