A search was underway in Rocky Mountain National Park on Saturday for a missing New Jersey man/NPS file photo of Longs Peak.

A search was underway Saturday in Rocky Mountain National Park for a New Jersey man who was overdue from a backcountry trek with plans to possibly climb Longs Peak. 

A family member reported Friday afternoon that Ryan Albert, 30, of Marlton, New Jersey, had not been heard from. Albert’s rental car was found at the Longs Peak trailhead later that afternoon, a park release said. However, it was unknown what Albert’s planned destination or route was. 

Shortly after dawn Saturday members of the park's search and rescue team headed to the Longs Peak area with plans to search the Boulder Field, the Keyhole Route, The Loft, Chasm Cirque, North Longs Peak and Boulder Brook areas. The weather forecast in the Longs Peak area called for freezing temperatures and severe and unpredictable weather including snow, hail, sleet, thunder and lightning.

Ryan Albert was reported missing in Rocky Mountain National Park on Friday/HO

Albert was last seen leaving the Denver area early Thursday morning, October 4, wearing dark clothes and a backpack. Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Longs Peak area since Thursday, or who may have had contact with Albert regarding his planned route on Longs Peak. Please call (970) 586-1204.

Two other hikers who went missing in the park turned up dead in recent months. In late August the body thought to be that of Jens "Jay" Yambert, 60, of Urbana, Illinois, was found west of Keplinger’s Couloir at an elevation of 12,600 feet in extremely steep, rugged terrain. On July 28 a body found in the park's backcountry was thought to be that of a Colorado man, Brian Perri, 38, of Fort Collins, was found. He had failed to return from a day hike to Mount Meeker.