News Release

Successful Search Efforts Today For Man In Mount Chapin Area Rocky Mountain National Park

Date: July 3, 2019
Contact: Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer, [phone]
Contact: Park Information, [phone]

This morning, Wednesday, July 3, Rocky Mountain National Park rangers began search efforts for a 51 year old man from Baton Rouge, LA. At 8 p.m. last night, Tuesday, July 2, park rangers were notified by a family member that the man had not been heard from since Monday morning, July 1. He was reported to be planning a hike in the Mount Chapin, Mount Chiquita, Ypsilon Mountain area. His rental car was located at 9:30 p.m. at the Alpine Visitor Center parking lot.

Members of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue team searched the Mount Chapin, Mount Chiquita, Ypsilon Mountain areas, the Chapin Creek drainage, and the Poudre River Trail both from Milner Pass and from the Corral Creek Trailhead.  Northern Colorado Interagency Helitack assisted with aerial reconnaissance.

A Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue ground team found the man at 11,400 feet in elevation on the northwest side of Mount Chapin at approximately 1:30 p.m. He appeared to be uninjured but exhausted from two unplanned nights in the backcountry.  He was flown from the area by Northern Colorado Interagency Helitack at 3:00 p.m. and taken by ambulance to Estes Park Health. All ground search teams are hiking back to trailheads at this time.