6 replies to this topic

[AnnaPigeon]

Some have gone hiking and never returned. Bones have been found years later. Mysteries are my passion so here’s one for RMNP: In the winter of 1982-83, a young man from Germany went winter camping in the Never Summer Mountains. He never returned. The SAR groups found his camp, but his skies and daypack were missing. The found tracks heading away from the camp, but never found the young man. Rumors persisted that he had ran away to Canada to escape his “East” Germany past. How do I know this… I was there, a ranger on the West Side, I remember the search and the rumors, but I have never heard or found anything about him being found or bones discovered. Do you know this story, do you know the ending?

[Aaron]

Do you know this story, do you know the ending?

I've got a vague memory of it. I don't know the ending. I can't wait for more about this!

--Aaron
(good username...a group of us read the Anna Pigeon/RMNP book years ago)

[AnnaPigeon]

I've got a vague memory of it. I don't know the ending. I can't wait for more about this!

--Aaron
(good username...a group of us read the Anna Pigeon/RMNP book years ago)

Ahh yes... Nevada Barr, I told her once that she stole my life and name to create Anna Pigeon, I've read them all! Part of the reason I love a mystery. This one is driving me crazy because I can't find anything on it, yet I was there, I remember it so well.....

[Igloo Ed]

I spent a little time with the Larimer County SAR and I suppose this is the one they told me about. I seem to remember them saying the tracks led away from camp. They were mystified over how he just disappeared also.

[AnnaPigeon]

Some have gone hiking and never returned. Bones have been found years later. Mysteries are my passion so here’s one for RMNP: In the winter of 1982-83, a young man from Germany went winter camping in the Never Summer Mountains. He never returned. The SAR groups found his camp, but his skies and daypack were missing. The found tracks heading away from the camp, but never found the young man. Rumors persisted that he had ran away to Canada to escape his “East” Germany past. How do I know this… I was there, a ranger on the West Side, I remember the search and the rumors, but I have never heard or found anything about him being found or bones discovered. Do you know this story, do you know the ending?

I ran across this name in the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Cold Case Missing files: Rudolf Moder, DOB 1955, missing from Ft. Collins, Feb. 19. 1983
His name, the missing date are ringing major bells in my head. Nothing on Google or Bing on his story. OK Back to the research. Let me know if any of you remember this story!! Anna

[Scrapinator]

Now I want to do some research as well.

I have also read all the Anna Pigeon mysteries. My favorite was the one in Mesa Verde.

[AnnaPigeon]

[I've found some additional information:

Here's the request to Larimer County Sheriff:
I am looking for information on a person that went missing in Rocky
Mountain National Park. It was a West Side SAR with Grand County
assistance. His car was found parked at the end of the snowplowed road. I
was a Ranger on the West Side and involved in the search. We searched for
nearly a week but never found any evidence of him. There were several fresh
avalanches in the Never Summer Range that month and we always figured that
we'd find him in the spring.

In doing some other research on Colorado Cold Cases, I was looking through
the State Cold Case database and ran across the name Rudolf Moder and it
rang bells in my memory. I believe this was his name, the date is a perfect
match, but I can't be sure. Of course that only fired my resolve to find
out if he had ever been found. The rumors were wild about him being a
German National and how his Aunt and Uncle from Canada didn't seem that
upset that he was lost in the backcountry. I don't know that we ever heard
from them again.

Here's the information from the Colorado Cold Case Database:
https://www.colorado...il.html?id=1432

Rudolf Moder
CASE TYPE: MISSING
INCIDENT DATE: Feb 19, 1983
CASE #: 83-2840
AGE: 28
DOB: Apr 30, 1955
HEIGHT: Unknown
WEIGHT: Unknown
GENDER: MALE
HAIR: Unknown
EYES: Unknown
RACE: Caucasian
STATUS: OPEN
CITY: Fort Collins
COUNTY: Larimer County
DATE OF DEATH: Unknown

I appreciate the help! Thank a million!

FYI, other than being involved in the search, I don't have any other
information on Mr. Moder other an interest in it's resolution. If I need
to file a formal request, please let me know.


And Here's the response from Larimer county Sheriff's Office:
This event was a VERY long time ago. In researching your inquiry, I spoke
with two people who are still with the Sheriff's Office and were at least
peripherally involved with the case. Both indicated that as far as they
know, Mr. Moder was never found. One of the people I spoke to said they
went back months later and searched with dogs, and found no sign. He said
that seven years after the event he had to write a letter to the German
consulate so the family could collect on his life insurance. He said there
are a number of avalanche fields out there and he could have been swept into
deep forest; the other remembered a large number of extremely deep crevasses
where the snow never quite melts.

I hope this satisfies your curiosity, even though there is nothing concrete
to report.

Thank you for writing.

Carol Downing
Admin, Operations Division
Larimer County Sheriff's Office
2501 Midpoint Drive
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525