Search Efforts Continued Monday For James Pruitt In Glacier Gorge Area

Search efforts continued in Rocky Mountain National Park today, Monday, March 4, for James Pruitt, 70, of Etowah, TN. Searchers again focused their efforts in the Glacier Gorge drainage, the Loch Vale drainage and the Glacier Creek drainage. The search area included sections of the Glacier Gorge Trail, the North Longs Peak Trail, the Boulder Brook Trail to the Storm Pass Trailhead as well as the drainage east of the Alberta Falls Trail. Teams also searched extensively in the Bear Lake area including the Nymph Lake area, the Dream Lake area and further to Lake Haiyaha and the Loch/Mills Junction. The Glacier Creek Trail was also searched from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead and included terrain to Bear Lake Road. Approximately 40 people were involved in today’s operations including 29 in the field.

Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members today included Larimer County Search and Rescue (LCSAR), Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, a dog team from LCSAR and the Colorado Search and Rescue Board.

There has been almost two feet of snow accumulation in the Glacier Gorge area since Thursday, February 28. The recent snowfall in this mountainous terrain make finding clues to Pruitt’s whereabouts even more difficult.

After a vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead (9,240 feet) was determined to belong to Pruitt Sunday morning, March 3, rangers contacted Pruitt’s family in Tennessee. His family confirmed he was in the area and hadn’t been heard from since Thursday morning, February 28, at approximately 10 am. Pruitt arrived to the area on February 22. This was Pruitt’s third winter visit to Rocky Mountain National Park over the past three years.

Pruitt may be wearing a blue jacket, red or orange hat and microspikes on hiking boots. Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas since Thursday, February 28, or who may have had contact with Pruitt regarding his planned route for Thursday. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.



Jeff
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