News Release

Search In Longs Peak Area Continues For Yambert Separate Rescue Effort Takes Place In Search Area

Date: August 30, 2018
Contact: Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer, [phone]
Contact: Park Information, [phone]

This morning search efforts continued for Jens “Jay” Yambert. After hearing about the search for Yambert, park staff have heard from visitors who saw Yambert on Monday morning, August 27, along the Keyhole Route. Visitors indicated that the weather was poor with ice, sleet, rain, and strong winds. Park staff greatly appreciate information that visitors are providing.

Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members continue today to search for Yambert in a variety of areas including the Keyhole Route, Keplinger’s Couloir, The Loft, Chasm Lake and the Roaring Fork area.  Aviation resources were not available today for aerial surveillance.

In a separate incident - late last night Emma Long, 23, of Houston, Texas, was reported by a friend as overdue in the Longs Peak area. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members incorporated search efforts in the Keyhole Route area for Long as well as Yambert.

These efforts were underway early this morning, when park visitors notified rangers that they were assisting a female who indicated she had fallen at some time in the preceding 24 hours above the Keyhole.  Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue members arrived on scene at 9:30 a.m. Long suffered serious injuries from the fall.  Search and Rescue team members and visitors moved her via litter to The Boulder Field where a Flight For Life air ambulance from Colorado Springs flew her at 11:10 a.m. to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver.

On Tuesday, August 28, Rocky Mountain National Park rangers were notified by a family member that Jens “Jay” Yambert, 60, of Urbana, Illinois, was overdue.  Yambert is believed to have started from the Longs Peak Trailhead at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 26. His rental car was found at the trailhead last night after park staff were notified by his family that he was overdue. It was unknown what Yambert’s planned destination or route was.
 
Yesterday, Wednesday, August 29, members of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue team began searching the Longs Peak area including Clark’s Arrow, the Boulder Field, North Face, Lamb’s Slide and Peacock Pool. Aerial surveillance also occurred with assistance from Northern Colorado Helitack.

From visitor descriptions, Yambert was wearing a black raincoat, gray shorts with high black socks, yellow gloves, sandals and a blue/gray backpack.  He was carrying trekking poles. 

Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Longs Peak or Mount Meeker area since Sunday, August 26, particularly on the Keyhole Route, Keplinger’s Couloir, The Loft, Chasm Lake, Clark’s Arrow and the Roaring Fork area.  Please call [phone].