ESTES PARK, Colo. — Rescue crews battled strong winds, blowing snow and whiteout conditions on Tuesday in the search for a man to appeared to have summited Longs Peak on Sunday but hasn't been seen or heard from since.
Lucas Macaj, 23, of Colorado Springs began climbing Longs Peak early Sunday morning, according to a spokesperson for Rocky Mountain National Park. He texted a friend that he was on the summit of the mountain around 1 p.m., and that was the last time anyone heard from him. He was reported missing late that night.
Macaj's vehicle was still parked at the Longs Peak Trailhead on Monday morning, according to the spokesperson.
Macaj served in the Marine Corps and now serves with the U.S. Space Force in Colorado Springs, according to his girlfriend Natalie Dodgen.
“I just want people to know who he is, no matter how this ends,” Dodgen said. “I think it’s fair that the world knows what a great man he was.”
Dodgen described Macaj as “a big kid” and a “space nerd” who loves dressing up in outfits to make people smile at volunteer events. She said he has plenty of experience hiking in extreme terrain.
“He’s very strong, he’s very fit, and I hope that everyone is doing everything they can to bring him home,” she said.
A news release from the park says that "significant storms" moved through the high elevation portions of Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday afternoon.
Park rangers began searching for Macaj on Monday, including using aircraft, ground teams and a heat-sensing plane.
Rocky Mountain National Park spokesperson Kyle Patterson said the military has offered to help with the search and that the park is working with them to see what that could look like over the next few days.
On Tuesday, strong winds and blowing snow hampered search efforts. Conditions were expected to be difficult again on Wednesday. Patterson said the plan was to have crews spend the night on the mountain Wednesday, with better weather expected Thursday.
Macaj is described as a white man, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and 155 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He was wearing a dark-colored top, tan or brown pants, khaki-colored boots and a black backpack on the hike. He may also have a beanie and dark colored gloves on.
Anyone who has information that could help, including anyone who saw Macaj or was in the area of Longs Peak on Sunday, is asked to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Bureau on their tipline at 888-653-0009 or online here. Callers can remain anonymous.
Longs Peak is the tallest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park at 14,259 feet. Thousands of people attempt to summit the mountain each summer via the Keyhole Route, which includes crossings on sheer vertical rock faces, narrow ledges, loose rocks and steep cliffs.
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