x
Breaking News
More () »

Missing hiker's body recovered from Rocky Mountain National Park

The body of Jens "Jay" Yambert was recovered Sunday morning from Rocky Mountain National Park after originally being reported missing Aug. 28.
Credit: 9NEWS
Rocky Mountain National Park

The body of a hiker first reported missing Aug. 28 was recovered Sunday morning from Rocky Mountain National Park.

Jens "Jay" Yambert's body was recovered by helicopter and taken to the Boulder County Coroner's Office, according to staffers at the park. The Coroner's Office won't release a positive identification until an autopsy's been completed.

Staffers at the park, however, said the body is believed to be the 60-year-old's body. Yambert is from Urbana, Illinois.

On Friday, members of the Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team found Yambert west of Keplinger's Couloir below the Homestretch - about 12,600 feet above sea level.

On Saturday, rescue team members lowered down about 50 feet of steep terrain just west of Keplinger's Couloir and lowered Yambert's body to a rock shelf area that was safer for long line operations by helicopter, according to a news release from the park.

Helicopter operations were finished by noon on Sunday.

The initial investigation by search and rescue members indicated that Yambert fell about 200 feet and likely died instantly, park staffers said.

Park rangers were notified of Yambert's disappearance on Tuesday by a family member who said they hadn't heard from him and that he was overdue to have returned.

According to staff at the park, Yambert started his ill-fated hike at the Longs Peak Trailhead at 2 p.m. on Aug. 26. His rental car was found at the trailhead Tuesday night. Staffers said they do not know what his planned route or destination was.

After hearing Yambert was missing, staff at the park heard from other visitors to the park that he'd been seen Monday morning along the Keyhole Route. According to those visitors, the weather in the area was very bad with ice, sleet, rain and strong winds.

Search efforts began in earnest Aug. 29.

Before You Leave, Check This Out