Rocky Mountain National Park officials have announced that a body believed to be that of missing 23-year-old Blake Kieckhafer, of Omaha, was recovered from above Emerald Lake on August 13.

Kieckhafer was last seen on August 7 at about 5:20 p.m., when he was dropped off by a rideshare service in the area of the park’s Upper Beaver Meadows. He reportedly had a small day pack with him at the time.

After family had not heard from him for several days, he was reported missing to park rangers on August 11. An initial press release about the situation was sent out by the park the following day.

More than 80 people were involved in the search effort on the day that the body believed to be that of Kieckhafer was found, with the preceding investigation indicating that Emerald Lake was a point of focus. Once the body was found, an on-scene investigation was completed by park rangers and the body was flown to a landing zone in the park via helicopter, then transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.

Emerald Lake is about five miles southwest from the Upper Beaver Meadows Trailhead. That said, the hike to Emerald Lake typically begins from a trailhead on Bear Lake Road, not the Upper Beaver Meadows area along US Highway 36, which is where Kieckhafer was reportedly dropped off.

The coroner’s office will be responsible for confirming identification and releasing additional information related to the case.

Find a timeline of events related to the case below:

• August 7: Kieckhafer last seen dropped off by rideshare service in Upper Beaver Meadows area
• August 11: Family reports Kieckhafer missing to park rangers
• August 12: Press release sent out about situation
• August 13: Large scale search effort results in discovery of body above Emerald Lake believed to be that of Kieckhafer

Sincere condolences go out to those impacted by this tragic situation.

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