Hiker Brian Perri has been declared missing in the Mount Meeker area of Rocky Mountain National Park, according to a release from Rocky Mountain National Park Public Affairs officer Kyle Patterson.
Perri was last seen on top of Mount Meeker after texting a picture of himself to a friend from the summit. Perri did not provide an exact route he was planning to follow, but was expected to return on June 30.
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Six days later, rangers were notified late on the night of July 5 by the Fort Collins Police Department. Rangers then began the search for Perri.
Park rangers located Perri’s car in the parking lot at the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead, almost 14 miles from his last known location, according to the release.
The Coloradoan reported that according to friends, Perri was scaling Mount Meeker in celebration of completing his master’s thesis. Perri is a master student in radiological and health sciences from Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, according to CSU’s records.
In the six days after Perri was reported missing, search crews have been engaged in an extensive search and have covered “significant sections of 22.5 square miles above tree line as well as forested areas,” according to the release.
Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue has sent out helicopters, ground searchers, dog teams and UAS reconnaissance to cover the area with help from a number of separate organizations. Much of the terrain covered was rugged and remote with loose rock, steep ridges, and exposed cliffs, on ridge lines and couloirs, Patterson wrote in the release.
A Facebook page organized by family and friends of the missing hiker contain pictures and updates as the search for Perri continues. Several search parties have been independently organized through the Facebook page, as well as a GofundMe to help pay for search efforts and potential future medical expenses.
While there remain no clues as to the whereabouts of Brian Perri, those with any information about abandoned gear or clues in the Mount Meeker area since June 30 are urged to call 970-586-1204.
This is a developing story. Stay with The Collegian for future updates.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Brian Perri was expected to return on July 30, rather than June 30. This article has been updated to reflect the correct date.
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Collegian reporter Meagan Stackpool can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @MeaganStackpool.
