Hazardous weather forces pause on search for missing New Jersey hiker on Longs Peak

Sady Swanson | The Coloradoan

Show Caption Hide Caption Tips: Stay safe in Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park's search and rescue numbers are among the top in the country. Prepare for your trip in advance to stay safe.

Tuesday marked the fourth day crews searched for a New Jersey man who went missing after hiking Longs Peak last week, and hazardous weather Wednesday will force crews to pause ground search efforts, officials said.

Ryan Albert reportedly left Denver early Thursday to attempt to climb Longs Peak via the Keyhole route. A family member reported him overdue to Denver police Friday, and Rocky Mountain National Park rangers found Albert's rental car in the Longs Peak trailhead parking lot that afternoon.

Park spokesperson Lindsey Lewis said four teams of technical rescuers continued the search Tuesday, using specialized mountaineering equipment to climb steep terrain.

"They are employing ropes and climbing equipment for fall protection in order to mitigate those hazards," Lewis wrote in an email.

The technical teams were able to search high-elevation areas near Longs Peak including Chasm View, the Keyhole, the Cables, Ledges, Boulderfield and Peacock Pool.

Rescuers have not found any clues in their search for Albert, Lewis said.

Crews continued facing extreme weather conditions Tuesday, including waist-deep snow drifts, decreased visibility, cold temperatures, ice-covered rock, avalanche hazards, wind and falling snow, according to a release.

A winter weather advisory is set to begin in the Longs Peak area tonight, bringing three inches of snow, and continue through the day Wednesday, with up to seven more inches of snow possible.

Based on this forecast, no search teams will be in the field Wednesday, the release stated. The forecast for Thursday shows some improvement, according to the park, which should allow for teams to continue searching on the ground for Albert.

"The safety of the search teams continues to be the priority for those managing the search," the release stated.

A dog team from Larimer County Search and Rescue was used to cover lower elevations Monday, a release stated, but hazardous weather including snow and ice prevented crews from searching high elevations.

Snow and freezing temperatures are expected to continue in the area throughout the week. Trail Ridge Road remains closed due to winter conditions at Many Parks Curve, about 8 miles from the east entrances, and the Colorado River Trailhead, about 10 miles from the Grand Lake Entrance.

Albert was last seen leaving Denver early Thursday morning and was wearing dark clothes and a backpack.

Rangers are asking anyone who has been in the Longs Peak area since Thursday or who may have communicated with Albert about his planned route to call 970-586-1204.

Jens "Jay" Yambert, 60, of Urbana, Illinois, attempted to hike Longs Peak along the Keyhole route in August but died after taking a 200-foot tumbling fall, an initial investigation revealed.

Yambert went missing in the same area in 2014 but was located by rangers and hiked back to the trailhead on his own after they gave him some food and water.

Also this summer, Brian Perri of Fort Collins was found dead after hiking Mount Meeker, the second highest peak in the park, located southeast of Longs Peak. Crews, friends and volunteers searched for Perri for a month before he was found in steep, rocky terrain southwest of the peak.

Reporter Sady Swanson covers breaking news for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter: @sadyswan.

Tips for climbing Longs Peak safely

Rocky Mountain National Park advises anyone who tries to climb Longs Peak that "the Keyhole route is not a hike. It's a climb that crosses enormous sheer vertical rock faces, often with falling rocks, requiring scrambling, where an unroped fall would be fatal."

The park strongly discourages solo travel on the Keyhole route for safety reasons.

"It's not the destination, but the journey, and I think people who turn around after assessing their situation and their feeling and don't want to continue should be celebrated," Rocky Mountain National Park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson said in a previous interview. "They've made the right decision and shouldn't be chastised or feel bad for not making it to the summit."

Tips:

If a storm is brewing, turn back.

If you're suffering from altitude sickness, turn back.

If you're dehydrated, turn back.

If you're injured, turn back.

Weather watch:

Before you go, check conditions on Longs Peak at http://noconow.co/longsconditions. Watch a live feed of the mountain at http://noconow.co/longslive.

Weather changes on Longs can occur within a matter of minutes. Keep your eyes on the trail in front of you, but don't forget to stop and make frequent glances skyward.

Storms can be severe any month of the year, with lightning, rain, snow or hail often accompanied by strong winds.

The summit of Longs has recorded wind gusts of 200 mph.

Afternoon thunderstorms with lightning are common in the afternoon during summer months, so plan to be off the summit by noon.

Equipment checklist:

Make sure you're prepared for all conditions and make sure to bring: lots of water (there are no water sources along the Keyhole route); high-energy food and snacks; layers of clothing, including water and windproof clothing; sturdy footwear and extra socks; storm gear; hat and gloves; sunglasses and sunscreen; first-aid kit; topographic map, compass and GPS; cell phone; flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries; waterproof matches; pocket knife; whistle; helmet; and crampons and ice ax in winter conditions.