Body of missing Longs Peak hiker recovered after four-day investigation – Estes Park Trail-Gazette

Macaj was reported overdue late Sunday evening after attempting to climb Longs Peak on Sunday, May 12. (Rocky Mountain National Park/Photo courtesy)

On Thursday, May 16, the body of 23-year-old Lucas Macai of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was recovered from Mills Glacier near the base of Lamb’s Slide. Initial investigations indicate that he had a serious fall. Rocky Mountain National Park rangers conducted an on-site investigation and recovery operations took place by helicopter. His body was flown to a landing zone in Rocky Mountain National Park and turned over to the Boulder County coroner’s office.

Macaj was reported overdue late Sunday evening after attempting to climb Longs Peak on Sunday, May 12. Macaj set off from the Longs Peak Trailhead early Sunday to climb Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route. Macaj was last heard from around 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, when he was texting a friend and telling him he was at the summit of Longs Peak. On Sunday afternoon, severe storms moved through the high elevations in the park.

Search efforts began Monday and included aerial reconnaissance, ground crews and canine teams searching the Longs Peak Trail and along the Keyhole Route, glass areas above Black Lake, areas above Sandbeach Lake, the Hunter’s Creek drainage to the base of Keplinger’s Coulier and areas in near Chasm Lake to the loft.

Multiple agencies and organizations assisted Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members in search and recovery efforts. Flight for Life Air Ambulance, the State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), and the Colorado Army National Guard assisted in aerial reconnaissance operations. Also assisting were the Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR), Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States, the Larimer County SAR Dog Team, supported by the Boulder County Sheriff Dog Team, as well as the Park County SAR Dog Team and the El Paso County SAR Dog Team.

The Boulder County Coroner’s Office will announce the cause of death.