The body of a 23-year-old hiker who went missing in storms Sunday has been found at Rocky Mountain National Park, officials said in a media release.
Lucas Macaj’s body was recovered on Mills Glacier, near the base of Lamb’s Slide, and initial investigations show that he took a significant fall, park officials said on Thursday.
Macaj had attempted to reach the top of Longs Peak on Sunday and was reported overdue late Sunday night, according to the release.
He was last heard from at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday “when he texted a friend indicating that he was on the summit of Longs Peak,” the release said.
Significant storms had moved through high elevations that afternoon, the park said.
Heavy snow fell late Sunday afternoon, according to CNN Weather. There were wind gusts of up to 30 mph in the lower elevations, recorded at a weather station at nearby Granby-Grand County Airport.
Macaj’s vehicle was found Monday at the trailhead leading to Longs Peak. Search operations on Tuesday were slowed by strong winds, white out conditions and low visibility, park officials said.
Macaj was in the Marine Corps and most recently served in the U.S. Space Force in Colorado Springs, CNN affiliate KUSA reported.
His girlfriend, Natalie Dodgen, told KUSA he was very fit and had a lot of experience hiking in extreme terrain.
Macaj’s body was flown to a landing zone in Rocky Mountain National Park before being taken to the Boulder County Coroner’s Office, which will release the cause of death, the park service said.
CNN’s Andy Rose and Monica Garrett contributed to this report.
