Tennessee Man Missing In Rocky Mountain National Park

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, CO -- Search efforts began Sunday for a Tennessee man missing since Feb. 28, in the Glacier Gorge region of Rocky Mountain National Park, according to a press release from the National Park Service. James Pruitt, 70, was last heard from on Thursday by family who confirmed that he was in the area. Rangers were able to determine on Sunday that a vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead belonged to Pruitt.

According to his family, this was Pruitt’s third winter visit to Rocky Mountain National Park over the past three years. Pruitt may be wearing a blue jacket, red or orange hat and microspikes on hiking boots.

Monday's search area included sections of the Glacier Gorge Trail, the North Longs Peak Trail, the Boulder Brook Trail to the Storm Pass Trailhead as well as the drainage east of the Alberta Falls Trail. Rescue teams also searched extensively in the Bear Lake area including the Nymph Lake area, the Dream Lake area and further to Lake Haiyaha and the Loch/Mills Junction. The Glacier Creek Trail was also searched from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead and included terrain to Bear Lake Road.

Approximately 40 people were involved in Monday’s operations including 29 in the field, the National Park Service reports.

On Sunday, members of Rocky Mountain National Park’s search and rescue team searched the Glacier Gorge drainage, the Loch Vale drainage and the Glacier Creek drainage.

Additional search assistance has been provided by Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members including Larimer County Search and Rescue Dog Teams, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.

There has been almost two feet of snow accumulation in the Glacier Gorge area since Thursday, Feb. 28.

Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas since Thursday, February 28, or who may have had contact with Pruitt regarding his planned route for Thursday. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.

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