Colorado trail runner, 49, vanishes while trying to complete grueling 28-mile hiking route in Rocky Mountain National Park: Search enters day five

An experienced 49-year-old trail runner has been missing for six days after he disappeared during a grueling 28-mile hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Search teams are desperately scouring the remote Colorado landscape for Chad Pallansch, who was last seen around noon Wednesday.

Pallansch, a software engineer from Fort Collins, Colorado, parked his car at the North Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, officials said.

The 6-foot-2 marathoner began his sprawling route Wednesday afternoon at the East Inlet Trailhead near Grand Lake.

Park officials said Pallansch planned to cross the Continental Divide along several established hiking trails.

Search teams are desperately scouring the remote Colorado landscape for Chad Pallansch, who was last seen around noon Wednesday

Pallansch (pictured), a software engineer from Fort Collins, Colorado, parked his car at the North Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, officials said

But his journey also included traversing some off-trail steep slopes – these are naturally occurring slopes made up of loose rocks that have fallen from surrounding cliffs.

Pallansch was reported missing Thursday and park rangers confirmed his vehicle is still parked at the North Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park.

About 55 aid workers, including 38 field rescuers, have been involved in the massive rescue mission that entered its fifth day on Monday.

They are battling high winds to comb large parts of the 265,807-hectare national park, officials said.

The efforts are focused on this the Boulder Grand Pass, Mount Alice, McHenry’s Peak, Arrowhead, Stoneman Pass, Chiefs Head Peak, Thatchtop, Powell Peak and Andrews Glacier areas.

Teams are also searching for trails on the west side of the park that could have been part of Pallansch’s route.

Along with ground crews assisted by park rangers, the multi-agency rescue mission included helicopter searches using a heat-sensitive fixed-wing flight, in the hope of detecting signs of life.

Although Pallansch is a highly experienced trail and marathon runner who has completed numerous routes in his local national park – including summiting the 14,000-foot Longs Peak more than 30 times – he had not attempted this particular route before.

Concerned family and friends described Pallansch as 6 feet tall, 155 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

The 6-foot-2 marathoner began his sprawling route Wednesday afternoon at the East Inlet Trailhead near Grand Lake. Pallansch (photo) has not been seen since

About 55 officials, including 38 field rescuers, are involved in the mammoth rescue mission, which is scouring large parts of the 265,807-hectare national park amid adverse weather conditions.

He was probably wearing a black ultralight jacket, black running shorts or leggings and a gray fanny pack.

Pallansch had personal navigation with him, but the device was not designed for emergency response, park officials said.

Assisting members of the Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team include Larimer County Search and Rescue (LCSAR), Grand County Search and Rescue, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group (RMR), and Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR).

The State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) also deployed, along with Northern Colorado Interagency Helitack (US Forest Service) and a contracted helicopter with Trans Aero.

Officials have asked for the public’s assistance and asked anyone with information that could help the search to contact the National Park Service Investigative Bureau Tip Line at 888-653-0009 or via email: nps_isb@nps.gov.