The remains of Micah Tice, who went missing in Rocky Mountain National Park last November, were recovered Friday/NPS file

Remains of a U.S. Air Force Prep School Academy cadet were recovered Friday from the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, roughly eight months after he disappeared in the park.

On Thursday, items thought to belong to Micah Tice were spotted below treeline in the Boulder Brooke drainage. On Friday, members of the park's search and rescue team found his remains. 

Rangers completed an on-scene investigation Friday and recovery operations were underway. Tice's remains were to be transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.  Larimer County Coroner’s office will not release positive identification until completion of an autopsy. 

Tice vanished late last November. The 20-year-old's vehicle was located at the Longs Peak Trailhead late on November 26. It was unknown where Tice, who was last heard from on November 23, was heading or what route he was taking.

The day after he was reported missing, on November 27,  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.

Wintry weather conditions and lack of clues led to the suspension of the search on December 4. 

Park staff said Friday that an investigation determined that Tice was likely trying to climb Longs Peak on Saturday, November 24. On November 29, witnesses reported that they saw and talked with the yong man on Saturday, November 24, between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., just above treeline in blizzard conditions.

The two visitors indicated the weather was terrible at the Longs Peak Trailhead and that visibility and weather conditions continued to worsen. Tice was reported to be wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants, a black hat, black lightweight gloves, tennis shoes and a light blue backpack. The visitors discouraged Tice from continuing to the summit due to his clothing, footwear and weather conditions. He apparently had not communicated his plans to anyone, the park said.

Tice's parents have complained about the Park Service's search efforts, and campaigned to have U.S. military take over all search-and-rescue efforts on federal lands.

Longs Peak is the park’s highest peak at 14,259 feet in elevation. In late fall through early summer, Longs Peak is an extreme ascent requiring advanced winter mountaineering skills. Conditions on November 24 in the area were severe, including significant snow accumulation, extremely high winds, blizzard conditions, and bitter cold temperatures.

During an intensive search period, ground and aerial searchers covered an approximate 10-square-mile search area. Those efforts were focused on sections of the Longs Peak Trail, the East Longs Peak Trail, the Battle Mountain area, Granite Pass, Jim’s Grove, the Boulder Field, Mount Lady Washington, Chasm Lake, Peacock Pool, the Boulder Brook drainage, the Storm Pass Trail, and the Wind River drainage.  On Sunday, December 2, the first day conditions were conducive to flying this area, search managers assigned aerial searchers from the Colorado Air National Guard to perform reconnaissance of the entire Keyhole Route to the summit of Longs Peak. 

Additional military coordination included cell phone forensic analysis, according to a park release. The cell phone data was requested early in the investigation, and received on Thursday, November 29. Cell phone data provided broad areas of potential transactions but was vague information given the limitations of the signal in that area. These transactions were not “pings” nor texts nor phone calls. This information indicated Tice’s cell phone was picking up a signal early Sunday morning, November 25. The large, broad area referenced in the analysis was part of where search efforts were conducted. 

Searchers experienced chest-deep snow, thick snow-covered forests, and vast areas of dead and down trees, especially in drainages away from snow packed trails.  At higher elevations, winds scoured the landscape, leaving it bare or depositing deep drifted snow. Those conditions existed from the first day of search operations and can cover or erase clues, the park release said. Depending on the search area and day, team members encountered harsh winter conditions including extreme winds, low visibility, bitter wind chills, below freezing temperatures, deep snow and high avalanche danger.           

Park officials, aware of the family's criticism, said they had worked closely with the US Air Force Academy since the beginning of the incident, coordinating investigative and operational assistance, and incorporating a team from the Air Force Academy Mountaineering Club in initial search efforts. The Air Force Academy Colorado Parents’ Club coordinated efforts from numerous organizations and individuals to donate daily meals for searchers. 

Also assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members has been Larimer County Search and Rescue, Rocky Mountain Rescue based in Boulder County, Colorado Air National Guard, Alpine Rescue Team, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Grand County Search and Rescue, Douglas County Search and Rescue, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Summit County Rescue Group Dog Team, Front Range Rescue Dogs, and FLIR Systems Inc. who volunteered their services to conduct thermal imaging of the search area.

Tice's body was found five weeks after rangers recovered the body of Ryan Albert, of  Marlton, New Jersey, who had gone missing in the park last October 4.