Longs Peak Search For Micah Tice Continues Into The Weekend

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, CO -- The Longs Peak search for Micah Tice, the Air Force Academy cadet who went missing last weekend, has continued into the weekend, according to a press release from the National Park Service. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members focused their efforts Saturday on the Boulder Brook drainage and Storm Pass area. The overall search area has encompassed approximately 10 square miles over the last week, as ground searchers face areas of deep snow, high winds, freezing temperatures, severe wind chill and avalanche danger.

Two Colorado National Guard helicopters from Buckley Air Force Base were able to assist with aerial reconnaissance due to more favorable flying conditions. Nonetheless, cloud cover on Longs Peak has impacted the helicopters' visibility and they face strong wind gusts. FLIR Systems Inc. volunteered their services to use their fixed wing aircraft to conduct thermal imaging of the search area.

On Thursday, Nov. 29, Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members received information from park visitors who were in the Longs Peak area on Saturday, Nov. 24. The visitors reportedly spoke and hiked with Tice for roughly 20 minutes. They reported that he was wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants, a black hat, black lightweight gloves, tennis shoes and carried a light blue backpack. Tice indicated he had started from the Longs Peak Trailhead at 6:30 a.m. They last saw Tice in the vicinity of the Battle Mountain area, between 7:30 to 8 a.m. that same day as visibility and weather conditions continued to deteriorate.

Groups assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members this weekend were Rocky Mountain Rescue, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, Air Force Academy Mountaineering Club, Alpine Rescue Team, Larimer County Search and Rescue and Front Range Rescue Dogs.

Search efforts began on Tuesday, Nov. 27 after Tice's car was found at the Longs Peak Trailhead. He had not been heard from since Friday, Nov. 23. Tice is currently a cadet at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

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Photo via Air Force Academy Facebook page