{"id":29444,"date":"2018-12-05T16:42:39","date_gmt":"2018-12-05T16:42:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/12\/05\/search-for-air-force-academy-prep-student-missing-in-the-rockies-suspended\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:53:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:53:32","slug":"search-for-air-force-academy-prep-student-missing-in-the-rockies-suspended","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/12\/05\/search-for-air-force-academy-prep-student-missing-in-the-rockies-suspended\/","title":{"rendered":"Search for Air Force Academy prep student missing in the Rockies suspended"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The National Park Service is suspending its search for an Air Force Academy cadet candidate<\/a> who went missing in the Rocky Mountains Nov. 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weather and time has made the search difficult for Micah Tice<\/a>, a 20-year-old Air Force Academy preparatory school<\/a> student from Las Vegas who went missing in the Battle Mountain Area of Rocky Mountain National Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extreme, high mountain terrain where Tice went missing has been inundated by snowfall and high winds, making it difficult to find clues to the student\u2019s whereabouts, the National Park Service said in a release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the absence of additional clues, active search operations have been suspended,\u201d park officials said. \u201cLimited search activities may occur during winter months if conditions allow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Park rangers were first notified that the Air Force Academy was asking for assistance locating Tice on Nov. 26, two days after he was last seen. Tice\u2019s 2003 Toyota Camry with Nevada plates was found at a lot on the Longs Peak trailhead, the park\u2019s highest mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The search party, which included the Air Force Academy Mountaineering Club and Colorado Air National Guard<\/a>, began scouring the area on Nov. 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tice\u2019s parents, who live in Nevada, last spoke to him on the evening before he disappeared, according to the Air Force Academy Preparatory School\u2019s official Facebook page. Tice told his parents he was going to do some schoolwork that evening and perhaps take a hike the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His phone signal was last received Nov. 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Witnesses on the trail told authorities they last saw Tice at roughly 8 a.m. Visitors to the park said the weather was terrible at the trailhead and that visibility and weather conditions continued to worsen. Those who saw Tice, told authorities that they discouraged him from continuing to the summit due to his clothing, footwear and deteriorating weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tice was reported to be wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants, a black hat, black lightweight gloves, tennis shoes and a light blue backpack, according to the National Park Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past week, ground and aerial searchers covered about 10 square miles in search of Tice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday, the first day conditions were conducive to flying in the area, aerial searchers performed reconnaissance of the entire Keyhole Route to the summit of Longs Peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\t