Search Efforts For Missing Man On Longs Peak
May 13 2024- Initial Report
Yesterday, May 13, Rocky Mountain National Park rangers began search efforts for Lucas Macaj, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was reported overdue late at night on May 12 after attempting to summit Longs Peak. Early this morning rangers confirmed his vehicle was still parked at the Longs Peak Trailhead. Macaj was last heard from at approximately 1 p.m. Sunday May 12, when he texted a friend indicating that he was on the summit of Longs Peak. Significant storms moved through high elevations in the park that afternoon.
Macaj started from the Longs Peak Trailhead early to summit Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route. He is likely wearing a dark colored top, tan or brown pants, khaki-colored boots, and a black backpack. He may also be wearing a beanie and dark colored gloves. Macaj is described as 5’9,” 155 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.
Search efforts today have included air reconnaissance, a heat sensing fixed-wing flight and ground teams on the Longs Peak Trail to the Ledges on the Keyhole Route. Search efforts have also taken place on the Boulder Brook Trail. Air reconnaissance has focused on the Keyhole Route including The Ledges, The Trough, The Narrows, The Homestretch and the saddle between Longs Peak and Mount Meeker. Park rangers are also continuing investigations.
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members with air reconnaissance today include Flight for Life Air Ambulance and aircraft from the State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) including a fixed wing aircraft outfitted with infrared and color sensors and a helitak crew for helicopter air reconnaissance.
May 14 2024 Update
Search efforts continued today in Rocky Mountain National Park for Lucas Macaj, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Search operations today have been hampered by strong winds, white out conditions and low visibility. Teams were unable to be safely inserted today in the Loft area and the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak due to these conditions. Search members hiked/snowshoed above Black Lake and glassed the area below The Trough as well as the terrain below The Ledges.
Search efforts on Monday included air reconnaissance, a heat sensing fixed-wing flight and ground teams on the Longs Peak Trail to the Ledges on the Keyhole Route. Search efforts also took place on the Boulder Brook Trail. Air reconnaissance has focused on the Keyhole Route including The Ledges, The Trough, The Narrows, The Homestretch and the saddle between Longs Peak and Mount Meeker. Park rangers are also continuing investigations.
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members with air reconnaissance yesterday included Flight for Life Air Ambulance and aircraft from the State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) including a fixed wing aircraft outfitted with infrared and color sensors and a helitak crew for helicopter air reconnaissance.
May 15 2024 Update
Search efforts continued today for Lucas Macaj, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Team members have been reviewing aerial reconnaissance photos taken on May 13, for any possible clues.
Today, ground teams skied into the Hunter’s Creek drainage to the base of Keplinger’s Coulier. A dog team searched the Longs Peak Trail to Battle Mountain Junction. A third team is hiking to the park’s Chasm Shelter near Chasm Lake to glass the Loft and other areas between Longs Peak and Mount Meeker. They will overnight in the shelter. Early tomorrow, this team will ski the Clark’s Arrow Route to the top of Keplinger’s Coulier.
This morning, aircraft from the Colorado Army National Guard conducted additional aerial reconnaissance in Keplinger’s Coulier and the Loft as well as the Keyhole Route. Low clouds at roughly 12,700 feet hampered visibility.
Teams were unable to be safely inserted via helicopter yesterday in the Loft area and the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak due to strong winds, white out conditions and low visibility. Yesterday, search members snowshoed above Black Lake and glassed the area above on Longs Peak below The Trough as well as the terrain below The Ledges. No clues were found in this area.
Assisting RMNP SAR Team members with air reconnaissance Monday included Flight for Life Air Ambulance and aircraft from the State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control including a fixed wing aircraft and a helitak crew. Colorado Army National Guard assisted with aerial reconnaissance today. Also assisting are the Colorado Search and Rescue Association, and Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States, Larimer County SAR Dog Team, assisted by Boulder County Sheriff Dog Team.
If you have information that could help, if you may have seen Lucas Macaj, or if you were in the areas listed above on May 12, please contact us. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know.
If you have information that could help investigators, if you may have seen Lucas Macaj, or if you were in the areas listed above on May 12, please contact us. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know. CALL the National Park Service Investigative Services Bureau Tip Line 888-653-0009, ONLINE form www.nps.gov/ISB or EMAIL [email protected].