Yesterday, September 29, Rocky Mountain National Park rangers continued search efforts for Chad Pallansch, 49, of Fort Collins, Colorado. He was reported overdue on September 28, and park rangers confirmed his vehicle was still parked at the North Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Pallansch was last heard from around noon on Wednesday, September 27.
Pallansch started from the East Inlet Trailhead near Grand Lake on Wednesday, September 27. His reported itinerary was an expansive 28-mile route which included crossing the Continental Divide and travelling on established trails as well as off trail travel through steep talus slopes. Potential travel areas include Lake Verna, Mount Alice, Chiefs Head Peak, Black Lake, Mills Lake, and Flattop Mountain.
Pallansch is described as 5’7,” 155 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is described as a fit runner with both trail running and marathon experience. He is likely wearing a black ultralight jacket, black running shorts or leggings and a grey fanny pack.
Search efforts yesterday afternoon included air reconnaissance as well as ground crews on the North Inlet and East Inlet Trails and east of the divide near Mount Alice. Search efforts today include air recon and ground teams searching the Black Lake and Upper Glacier Gorge area, Thunder Lake as well as the North Inlet Trail to Solitude Lake. Park rangers are also continuing investigations.
If you have information that could help investigators, if you may have seen Chad Pallansch, or if you were in the areas listed above on September 27, please contact NPS. You don't have to tell them who you are, but please tell them what you know. CALL or TEXT the National Park Service Investigative Services Bureau Tip Line 888-653-0009, ONLINE form www.nps.gov/ISB or EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov.
October 1, 2023 Update
Search efforts continue for Chad Pallansch in Rocky Mountain National Park. There are 55 individuals involved in today’s efforts, including 38 search team members in the field. Efforts are focused on the Boulder Grand Pass, Mount Alice, McHenry’s Peak, Arrowhead, Stoneman Pass, Chiefs Head Peak, Thatchtop, Powell Peak and Andrews Glacier areas. Teams are also searching trail sections on the west side of the park that were potentially on his route. Winds at higher elevations are hampering air operations.
Pallansch, 49, of Fort Collins, Colorado was reported overdue on September 28, and park rangers confirmed his vehicle was still parked at the North Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Pallansch was last heard from around noon on Wednesday, September 27.
Pallansch started from the East Inlet Trailhead near Grand Lake on Wednesday, September 27. His reported itinerary was an expansive 28-mile route which included crossing the Continental Divide and traveling on established trails as well as off trail travel through steep talus slopes. Potential travel areas include Lake Verna, Mount Alice, Chiefs Head Peak, Black Lake, Mills Lake, and Flattop Mountain. Pallansch had not attempted this route previously but is an experienced trail runner who has run numerous routes in the park including Longs Peak more than 30 times.
Pallansch is described as 5’7,” 155 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is described as a fit runner with both trail running and marathon experience. He is likely wearing a black ultralight jacket, black running shorts or leggings and a grey fanny pack. Pallansch had personal navigation with him, but the device was not designed for emergency assistance.
Search efforts have included air reconnaissance, a heat sensing fixed-wing flight, as well as ground crews on the North Inlet and East Inlet Trails, Black Lake and Upper Glacier Gorge area, Thunder Lake and Lake Powell. Park rangers are also continuing investigations.
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members include Larimer County Search and Rescue (LCSAR), Grand County Search and Rescue, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group (RMR), Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR), the State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control’s (DFPC) Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA), Northern Colorado Interagency Helitack (US Forest Service) and a contracted helicopter with Trans Aero.
October 2, 2023 Update
Search efforts continue for Chad Pallansch in Rocky Mountain National Park. There are 51 individuals involved in today’s efforts, including 38 search team members in the field. Two dog teams also assisted with the search efforts. Efforts are focused on areas around Black Lake, Stone Man Pass, Chiefs Head Peak, west ridge of Pagoda, Andrews Glacier, Upper Chaos Canyon, and Tyndall Glacier. This morning search team members were able to run aerial reconnaissance via helicopter while weather was favorable, focusing on Mount Alice, Chiefs Head Peak, and surrounding ridgeline areas. Precipitation that was forecast prevented afternoon aerial flights.
October 3, 2023 Update
Today, snow, ice and strong winds at high elevations have impacted ground and air search efforts for Chad Pallansch who has been overdue since September 28. Today’s search efforts are focused on RMNP Search and Rescue team members reviewing photographs from yesterday’s air reconnaissance operations, continuing ongoing investigations and planning for additional ground and aerial search operations.
October 5, 2023 Update
While weather including snow, ice and wind at high elevations has hampered on the ground search efforts for Chad Pallansch; ongoing investigations as well as reviewing aerial reconnaissance photographs and preparing for a concentrated ground search effort is taking place. Helicopter flights are occurring today for aerial reconnaissance and to confirm suitable landing zones to insert teams in the field beginning tomorrow. Weather and resources permitting, ground searchers and dog teams will be flown to several locations. To limit scent distractions and assist the effectiveness of the dog teams, a closure is in effect beginning tonight at 6 p.m. from Mount Alice to McHenry’s Peak including Black Lake and Lion Lake 1, Lion Lake 2 and Snowbank Lake (see attached map).
Search efforts have included air reconnaissance, a heat sensing fixed-wing flight, dog teams, as well as ground crews on the North Inlet and East Inlet Trails, Mount Alice, Black Lake, Upper Glacier Gorge area, Thunder Lake, Lion Lakes, Sandbeach Lake, Boulder-Grand Pass, Lowell Peak, McHenry’s Peak, Arrowhead, Thatchtop, Stone Man Pass, Chiefs Head Peak, west ridge of Pagoda, Andrews Glacier, Upper Chaos Canyon, and Tyndall Glacier areas. Search efforts and the ongoing investigation have not provided further clues at this point.
October 6, 2023 Update
Weather, including dense cloud cover, has hampered today's planned aerial operations to insert ground crews and dog teams in the ongoing search for Chad Pallansch. However, RMNP's Search and Rescue Team Members continue to review high resolution images that were taken previously. If visibility improves, we will conduct additional aerial reconnaissance this afternoon. Ground searchers and dog teams will continue with search efforts at several locations tomorrow, Saturday, October 7.
To limit scent distractions and assist the effectiveness of the dog teams, a closure remains in effect in Rocky Mountain National Park from Mount Alice to McHenry’s Peak, including Black Lake, Lion Lake 1, Lion Lake 2 and Snowbank Lake (see attached map). There is no known time on when this closure will be lifted.
October 7, 2023 Update
Search efforts continue for Chad Pallansch in Rocky Mountain National Park. Yesterday afternoon, when cloud cover lifted and weather for air operations improved, aerial reconnaissance via helicopter took place to take additional high-resolution photographs of high elevation ridgeline areas.
Today, Saturday, October 7, there are 77 individuals involved in search efforts, including 62 team members in the field. 7 search teams are in the field, including three dog teams and one State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) drone team. A DFPC MMA flight is also planned, weather and conditions permitting. Efforts continue to be focused on areas around Black Lake, Lake Powell, Stone Man Pass, Chiefs Head Peak, McHenry’s Peak, Mount Alice, and surrounding ridgeline areas. Investigations are ongoing and NPS Search and Rescue Team members continue to review aerial photographs taken earlier this week. Tomorrow, NPS Search and Rescue staff will review aerial and ground photographs taken today. Ground searchers are also planned to be in the field, weather and conditions permitting.
To limit scent distractions and assist the effectiveness of the dog teams, a closure remains in effect in Rocky Mountain National Park from Mount Alice to McHenry’s Peak, including Black Lake, Lion Lake 1, Lion Lake 2 and Snowbank Lake. There is no known time on when this closure will be lifted.
October 10, 2023 Update
Search efforts continued through the weekend for Chad Pallansch in Rocky Mountain National Park. Search teams included ground searchers, dog teams and a State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) drone team. A DFPC helicopter assisted efforts by inserting ground teams and searchers were onboard the aircraft conducting aerial reconnaissance. Recent efforts were focused on areas around Black Lake, Lake Powell, Stone Man Pass, Chiefs Head Peak, McHenry’s Peak, Mount Alice, and surrounding ridgeline areas. Search efforts have not provided further clues at this point. Investigations are ongoing and NPS Search and Rescue Team members continue to review aerial photographs and drone footage.
Broad scale search efforts are being suspended but patrols will continue to occur in the search area when conditions warrant and further actions may be considered. Reported clues will be investigated as appropriate. Chad Pallansch is still a missing person and our investigation will continue.
The closure that was put in place this weekend to limit scent distractions and assist the effectiveness of the dog teams has been lifted.
Search efforts have included air reconnaissance, a drone team, heat sensing fixed-wing flights, dog teams, as well as ground crews on the North Inlet and East Inlet Trails, Mount Alice, Black Lake, Upper Glacier Gorge area, Thunder Lake, Lion Lakes, Sandbeach Lake, Boulder-Grand Pass, Lowell Peak, McHenry’s Peak, Arrowhead, Thatchtop, Stone Man Pass, Chiefs Head Peak, west ridge of Pagoda, Andrews Glacier, Upper Chaos Canyon, and Tyndall Glacier areas.
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members include Larimer County Search and Rescue (LCSAR), Grand County Search and Rescue (GCSAR), Rocky Mountain Rescue Group (RMR), Front Range Rescue Dogs (FRRD), Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR), Alpine Rescue Team, El Paso County Search and Rescue, aircraft from the State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), Northern Colorado Interagency Helitack (US Forest Service) and a contracted helicopter with Trans Aero.
If you have information that could help investigators, if you may have seen Chad Pallansch, or if you were in the areas listed above on September 27, please contact NPS. You don't have to tell them who you are, but please tell them what you know. CALL or TEXT the National Park Service Investigative Services Bureau Tip Line 888-653-0009, ONLINE form www.nps.gov/ISB or EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov.