Challenging weather conditions greeted search-and-rescue teams looking for Ryan Albert at Rocky Mountain National Park/NPS
Mid-winter weather conditions Sunday hampered search efforts in Rocky Mountain National Park for a New Jersey man believed to be missing in the Longs Peak area of the park since Friday.
Rime ice, pockets of deep snow, and temperatures in the 20s challenged ground searchers looking for Ryan Albert, 30, of Marlton, New Jersey. Rocky Mountain National Park search and rescue team members assisted by Rocky Mountain Rescue Group and Larimer County Search and Rescue were searching both low elevation and technical terrain to look for Albert. Information received Saturday indicated that Albert intended on climbing Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route.
Sunday's forecast called for ice fog, snow showers, thunderstorms and temperatures in the 20s and 30s. Up to 3 inches of snow was predicted for Sunday night in the search area, and the extended forecast included cold temperatures and snow throughout the week.
A family member reported Friday afternoon that Albert had not been heard from. His rental car was found at the Longs Peak trailhead Friday afternoon, a park release said.
Steep snow- and ice-covered slopes made the search for Ryan Albert treacherous/NPS
Cold, wintry conditions were forecast in Rocky Mountain National Park for the coming week/NPS
Comments
Thank goodness for the search and rescue teams! They are a dedicated and probably under appreciated group. Many thanks for all that you and all of the park rangers do.
Tragic case. I hope they can find him. He had to know bad conditions were coming. Why would he go hiking where snow drifts were waist high and going to deteriorate?