Posted on 07/31/2005 12:43:04 PM PDT by BulletBobCo
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK (AP) - Park rangers and staff, aided by area search and rescue teams, searched for a second day Sunday for a missing park ranger. Ranger Jeff Christensen was last seen by his co-workers at 11 a.m. at the Chapin Pass Trailhead off Old Fall River Road on Friday at 11 a.m.
Christensen told them he was planning a backcountry patrol to the Lawn Lake Trailhead. He did not contact park staff that evening, although he was carrying a radio, and did not arrive for his shift Saturday.
A search began early Saturday with more than 25 rangers, other park staff, and Larimer County search and rescue, covering many trails and drainages in the Mummy Range in the northern part of the park. A Bell 407 helicopter from the Western Area Power Authority joined in the search and airlifted searchers to key locations.
More than 50 people were searching Sunday, including members of the Grand County search and rescue team, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Front Range Rescue Dogs, park staff and park volunteers. Two helicopters were assisting, one of them equipped with an infrared heat-seeking device.
The Mummy Range, a remote, high altitude, area includes Mount Chapin, Mount Chiquita, Ypsilon Mountain and Desolation Peaks. There are few trails in the area and most hiking is cross country.
Christensen, 31, of Fraser, was described as an experienced hiker and extremely fit. He has been a park ranger for four seasons. He also is a Winter Park ski patroller.
Don't feed the bears!
After reading the story about the guy who had to cut his own arm off last year, I'm beginning to think that backcountry hiking should be like diving. Better to observe the "buddy system" when venturing out to very remote places.
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