42 replies to this topic

[uncleben]

It seems we have another missing hiker in the Mummy range wilderness area. A young man was reported missing Sunday evening, and a full scale search is underway, including use of a heliocopter. The search is in the lawn lake, Ypsilon Mountain area, the same general area where Ranger Jeff Christensen was found, after 8 days. He was supposed to come out at the Lawn Lake trailhead, but never arrived. I talked to his brother for a short while this evening, he is understandably worried.

[Jenny]

I'm sorry to hear about that. I'll be praying for the hiker, his family and the search teams.

-Jenny

[Allie]

I also will be praying for him being found safely.

[GLENNinPA]

Man, I cannot believe this!

I will also be praying for his safe & speedy return.

[weatherbe]

I sincerely hope he is found safely. My concern is the same cold front that just blasted through WA is headed for CO. In fact the snow levels came downto 6000 feet in the northern Cascades. If this system stays intact, this could mean snow in the higher elevations of RMNP. Let's hope this system does not impact CO and cause more problems for this hiker.

Weather

[Bill 007]

Weird!! We're doing CC&Y this trip so two disappearances this close together is a bit of an attention grabber! I certainly hope they find him safe & sound and soon!

Bill

[slowpoke]

I was just up that way a few days ago and I could not get the thought of what happened to the ranger out of my mind. There are so many places up there where you just want to look over the edge because what you see below is so darn pretty. Bill, when you're up there, please be careful.

I really hope this guy is ok. Maybe some weather crept up on him and he descended to Chapin Creek or something.

[Melanie]

I hope they find him soon. Prayers heading that way a second time this summer. Bill007, be very careful.


Melanie<><

[weatherbe]

Bill, let me know when you are headed out for your trip, and I'll be sure and get you a weather report in advance.

Weather

Weird!! We're doing CC&Y this trip so two disappearances this close together is a bit of an attention grabber! I certainly hope they find him safe & sound and soon!

Bill

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Bill 007]

Bill, let me know when you are headed out for your trip, and I'll be sure and get you a weather report in advance.

Weather

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well Bee, we be landing at DIA @ 7:40 am, this Thursday!

Bill
( Please don't hate me!)

[TempestT-37]

Clipped from estes@estes.on-line.com

Search Continues For Missing Hiker In Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park staff continue their search today for a
park visitor that was last seen near the summit of Fairchild Mountain
at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 28. Hillel Ben-Avi was hiking with his
brother in the Mummy Range in the northern part of the park.
Mr. Ben-Avi is 45 years old with brown hair and brown eyes. He is
from Austin, Texas. He may be wearing a blue jacket with orange
sleeves, gray pants, green and gray ball cap and carrying a blue-green
Jansport daypack. Ben-Avi does not have any pre-existing health
conditions and is
athletic. He was not prepared to spend the night in the back country.
Park officials are asking visitors who might have been hiking in the
Mummy Range area on Sunday, August 28 or Monday, August 29 to please
contact the park at (970) 586-1204 for help in determining where he
might have been seen last.
The search began on Sunday evening and continued into Monday, with
rangers and other park staff searching near lakes, trails and drainages
in the Mummy Range. A helicopter was also utilized to assist with
search efforts yesterday. Another day of intensive searching began
this morning with approximately 70 people, two dog teams and two
helicopters, including one with thermal imaging capabilities are
involved in today’s efforts.
Larimer County Search and Rescue, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group and
Alpine Rescue are assisting.
Hillel was hiking ahead of his brother on Sunday. His brother saw
Hillel near the summit of Fairchild Mountain at approximately 1:30 p.m.
When his brother reached the summit, Hillel was not there. Park
dispatch received a cell phone call from Hillel at approximately 4:30
p.m. and then again almost 30 minutes later indicating he was lost.
During the conversation Hillel mentioned he traveled by three lakes,
and was instructed by a park ranger to return to the last lake he had
passed.
Hillel confirmed he heard the instructions shortly before the cell
phone signal was lost. It appears that another call was made from his
cell phone at approximately 10:20 p.m. on Sunday but no known
connection was made.
The Mummy Range is a remote, high altitude, rugged area which
includes Fairchild Mountain, Mount Chapin, Mount Chiquita, Ypsilon
Mountain and other prominent peaks. There are few designated trails in
the area and hiking mainly occurs cross country.

[chipper]

That's terrible. Sending prayers his way. All you hikers be careful out there.

L

[Aaron]

Thanks for the update uncleben and tempest!

--Aaron

[Malok]

I guess if he is lost and down by lakes that there is much less chance of him being hurt in a fall making it much more likely that he is ok. I imagine that this must be a very scary time for him.

[junkie]

Another good story to remind everyone to hike with your partner(s) and with means WITH, not 30 minutes ahead....

It seems odd that he is hard to find. Depending on which side of Fairchild they came up (I am guessing you are likely to approach it from lawn lake) it seems he had to be either by Crystal Lakes or Fay lakes. Crystal lakes feed down to lawn lake which would be heavily populated by hikers and easy to get down from. Fay lakes appear to be more remote.

Anyone been in these areas?