Winter comes early to the route up Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, as this shot from October 6, 2018, illustrates/NPS

When searchers this week headed into the Longs Peak region of Rocky Mountain National Park to look for a missing hiker, it was the fourth such hunt in that part of the park this year. Though there are other search-and-rescue missions in the park, those in the Longs Peak area seem to garner the most attention.

"We are one of the busiest search-and-rescue operations parks in the National Park Service," said park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson. "Last year we were the third busiest. Approximately 20 percent of our overall SAR incidents this year have occurred in the Longs Peak/Mount Meeker areas."

Three of the four searches in the Longs Peak area ended in disappointment. In late August the body thought to be that of Jens "Jay" Yambert, 60, of Urbana, Illinois, was found west of Keplinger’s Couloir at an elevation of 12,600 feet in extremely steep, rugged terrain. On July 28 a body found in the park's backcountry was thought to be that of a Colorado man, Brian Perri, 38, of Fort Collins. He had failed to return from a day hike to Mount Meeker, which is just to the southeast of Longs Peak.

The third search, for Ryan Albert of New Jersey, was suspended after nearly a month of scouring the area around Longs Peak, a 14,259-foot icon that is a magnet for hikers hoping to tackle a "14er."

"The staff at Rocky Mountain National Park have been amazing in their efforts, but there won't likely be any news until the snow thaws," Dolores Albert, Ryan's mom, wrote in a Facebook post last week. "Please continue to share our story in hopes that a hiker may find a clue."

Longs Peak exerts a strong pull for those determined to knock off a "fourteener."/NPS

This week's search for Micah Tice, a cadet candidate from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, got off to a somewhat late start. Tice was last seen the night of November 23, but wasn't reporting missing to park staff until Monday afternoon. The active ground search didn't begin until Tuesday morning.

Snow was forecast to move into the park Tuesday night and continue on and off through the week. There also was a chance that winds in the mountains would gust upwards of 60 mph. Those are not ideal conditions to search for a missing hiker, one whose exact destination in the backcountry was unknown.

Despite the wintry conditions, not unlike those that shut down the search for Albert, 30, of Marlton, New Jersey, on November 2, the search for Tice was launched because the 20-year-old had just been reported missing. As for Albert, who was last seen October 4, the search-and-rescue mission continued for nearly a month without a clue to his whereabout before the weather closed in.

"After days of searching for Albert, and the absence of clues along with extreme winter conditions at higher elevations, the decision was made on November 2 to wait to resume efforts for Albert until snow melted and conditions improved," said Patterson.

Winter stays late on Longs Peak, as this shot along the Chasm Cutoff from Mat 20, 2018, illustrates/NPS

As enticing as Longs Peak may be, it's not the proverbial walk in the park. Back in 2011 park staff created a webpage specific to the hike up Longs Peak. The information includes a brochure with photographs of the different sections on the route, 12 frequently asked questions, and, during the summer climbing season, weekly conditions of the route.

When you access the website you will find a downloadable brochure showing the main sections of the route – starting at the Boulder Field and ending at the summit with brief text and photos. The brochure also includes numerous safety tips, essentials to wear and carry, and a link to the latest weather forecast.

Among the FAQs:

* “How have people been injured or killed on the Keyhole Route?”

* “How many people should I expect to see on the route during the summer?”, and;

* “Do I really need to start at the trailhead before sunrise?”

The Keyhole Route to the summit of Longs Peak, one of the most popular routes in Colorado, is an extraordinary climbing experience. This is not a hike. It is a climb, a classic mountaineering route that should not be underestimated. The route crosses enormous vertical rock faces, is exposed to falling rock, and at times requires scrambling on all fours.

The route has narrow ledges, loose rock, and steep cliffs. Depending upon conditions snow and ice might be encountered any time of year. The terrain requires route finding skills and the ability to assess and adjust to unexpected or changing weather conditions. A slip, trip or fall could be fatal. Safety is ultimately each visitor’s personal responsibility.

Once snow begins to fly on the mountain, this route becomes a true mountaineering experience; crampons and an ice axe wouldn't be overkill.