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Rocky Mountain National Park Rangers Searching For Overdue Longs Peak Climber

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By Compiled From N... - May 13th, 2024

The East Face of Longs Peak on May 13, 2024/NPS

A 23-year-old Colorado man who reportedly summited Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park failed to return as planned, sparking a search effort Monday by park rangers. 

Lucas Macaj, of Colorado Springs, was reported overdue late Sunday night, according to a park release. Early Monday morning rangers spotted his car at the trailhead to the 14,259-foot high Longs Peak.

"Macaj was last heard from at approximately 1 p.m. yesterday, Sunday, May 12, when he texted a friend indicating that he was on the summit of Longs Peak," the park release said. "Significant storms moved through high elevations in the park yesterday afternoon."

Lucas Macaj told a friend he had summited Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday. Rangers were searching for the man Monday/NPS HO

It was believed that Macaj started from the Longs Peak Trailhead early Sunday, planning to summit Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route.  He was likely wearing a dark colored top, tan or brown pants, khaki-colored boots, and a black backpack. He might also be wearing a beanie and dark colored gloves. Macaj is described as 5-foot-9, 155 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.

Monday's search efforts included air reconnaissance, a heat sensing fixed-wing flight, and ground teams on the Longs Peak Trail to the Ledges on the Keyhole Route. Search efforts also took place on the Boulder Brook Trail. Air reconnaissance focused on the Keyhole Route including The Ledges, The Trough, The Narrows, The Homestretch, and the saddle between Longs Peak and Mount Meeker.

If you have information that could help investigators, if you may have seen Lucas Macaj, or if you were in the areas listed above on May 12, you're asked to contact the park. You don't have to identify yourself. CALL or TEXT the National Park Service Investigative Services Bureau Tip Line 888-653-0009, ONLINE form www.nps.gov/ISB or EMAIL [email protected].

 

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