Search For Micah Tice Suspended On Longs Peak

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, CO -- The Longs Peak search for Micah Tice, an Air Force Academy Cadet who was last seen on Saturday, Nov. 24, has now been called off, according to a press release from the National Park Service. Over the weeklong search, team members faced harsh winter conditions including extreme winds, low visibility, bitter wind chills, below freezing temperatures, deep snow and high avalanche danger, and were able to find few clues to Tice's whereabouts.

Tice was reported missing by the Air Force Academy on Monday, Nov. 25. Rangers located his car at the Longs Peak trailhead that afternoon and search and rescue efforts began the following morning.

Sunday, Dec. 2 was the first day conditions were conducive to flying, and aerial searchers performed a reconnaissance of the entire Keyhole route. Over the full seven day period, ground and aerial searchers focused on a roughly 10 square mile search area, sections of the Longs Peak Trail, the East Longs Peak Trail, the Battle Mountain area, Granite Pass, Jim’s Grove, the Boulder Field, Mount Lady Washington, Chasm Lake, Peacock Pool, Boulder Brook Drainage, the Storm Pass Trail, and the Wind River drainage. Although ground search teams reached The Ledges section of the Keyhole Route on Tuesday, November 27, they did not proceed further due to hazardous, icy conditions on the upper mountain.

Tice was last seen by other park visitors on Saturday, Nov. 24, between 7:30 and 8 a.m. in the Battle Mountain Area. According to the National Park Service, the visitors indicated that the weather was terrible at trailhead, and that visibility and weather conditions continued to worsen. Tice was said to be wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants, a black hat, black lightweight gloves, tennis shoes, and carried a light blue backpack. The visitors reportedly discouraged Tice from continuing to the summit due to his clothing and footwear as well as the weather conditions.

Rocky Mountain National Park was assisted in search efforts by the US Air Force Academy, which helped coordinate investigative and operational assistance. A team from the Air Force Academy Mountaineering Club was incorporated into the search efforts. The Air Force Academy Colorado Parents’ Club also coordinated numerous organizations and individuals to donate daily meals for searchers.

The National Park Service reports that Micah Tice is still a missing person, and that the investigation will continue in hopes of gaining further information about his plans on the day of his disappearance. Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who may have had contact with Micah Tice or have information on his planned route. Rangers can be reached at (970) 586-1204.

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Photo via the Air Force Academy Facebook page.