Searchers along the Chasm Lake Trail at Rocky Mountain National Park/NPS
Editor's note: This updates with reports from Tuesday's search effort.
Rangers encountered deep snow and high winds Tuesday as they searched the Longs Peak area of Rocky Mountain National Park for a cadet candidate from the U.S. Air Force Academy who hasn't been heard from since late Friday. It marked at least the fourth time this year that a major search-and-rescue mission was called out to that part of the park.
The search teams had gathered Monday night to plan their operation after academy officials contacted the park. Twenty-year-old Micah Tice's vehicle was located at the Longs Peak Trailhead late Monday afternoon. It is unknown what Tice’s planned destination or route was. The weather on Longs Peak on Saturday was poor, with significant snow accumulation, extremely high winds, and bitter cold temperatures.
A search was launched in Rocky Mountain National Park to look for Micah Tice, a cadet candidate at the U.S. Air Force Academy/NPS, HO
On Tuesday the search crews headed out shortly after daybreak to look for Tice along sections of the Longs Peak Trail, as well as sections of the Boulder Field to the Keyhole area and the trail to Chasm Lake. A Colorado National Guard helicopter conducted an initial aerial reconnaissance; however, the flight was curtailed due to wind gusts over 90 mph on Longs Peak.
Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Longs Peak area since Saturday morning, November 24, or who may have had contact with Tice regarding his planned route on Longs Peak. You can call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Earlier this fall a search for a missing New Jersey man was called off due to wintry weather conditions.
Two other hikers who went missing in the park turned up dead during the summer. 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. He had failed to return from a day hike to Mount Meeker, which is just to the southeast of Longs Peak.
Comments
So many paople think these back country hikes are a cake walk. That may be true if everything goes perfectly. Unfortunately, that is often not the case. Park rangers and experienced outdoors folks will tell you, you can not over prepare. Sadly, people over and over again people turn what should have been an amazing experience into life and death, both for themselves and for their rescuers.