News Release

Search for Ryan Albert in Rocky Mountain National Park

The search team is facing extreme conditions.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: October 9, 2018

Contact: Lindsey Lewis, Acting Public Affairs Officer, [phone]

Contact: Park Information, [phone]

Tuesday marks day four of the search for Ryan Albert in Rocky Mountain National Park. On Monday, the search included a dog team from Larimer County Search and Rescue, which was able to cover some of the lower elevations of the search area. Monday’s efforts did not include teams on the upper mountain due to hazardous weather conditions including snow and ice. On Tuesday, four technical teams reached high elevations in the Longs Peak area including Chasm View, the Keyhole, the Cables, Ledges, Boulderfield and Peacock Pool. No clues have been found.
 
The teams today faced extreme conditions including waist-deep snow drifts, decreased visibility, cold temperatures, ice covered rock, avalanche hazards, wind and falling snow throughout the day. This caused slow moving travel with slips along the way. There is a winter weather advisory beginning tonight in the Longs Peak area with three inches of snow expected tonight and seven inches of snow tomorrow. Based on the continued decreasing conditions that teams experienced today, accompanied by tomorrow’s forecast, the search teams will take a pause on the efforts for tomorrow. There will be no teams in the field on Wednesday. The safety of the search teams continues to be the priority for those managing the search.
 
The projected forecast for Thursday seems to show a bit of improvement which should allow teams to once again get back out to continue their search efforts.
    
On Friday, October 5, Rocky Mountain National Park rangers were contacted by the Denver Police Department, who had been notified by a family member that Albert of Marlton, New Jersey was overdue.  It was believed he was attempting Longs Peak on Thursday, October 4. Albert’s rental car was found at the Longs Peak trailhead on Friday afternoon. 

Albert was last seen leaving the Denver area early Thursday morning, October 4, wearing dark clothes and a backpack. Information received on Saturday indicates that Albert intended on climbing Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route.
 
Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Longs Peak area since Thursday, October 4, or who may have had contact with Albert regarding his planned route on Longs Peak. Please call [phone].