Found Deceased CO - Steven Grunwald, 24, from NY, Glacier Gorge Trailhead, 28 Aug 2020

[GuyfromCanada]

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — Crews are continuing to search for a missing man at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).

According to a release from RMNP, a friend of 24-year-old Steven "Steve" Grunwald of Greenville, New York, reported him missing Thursday. Park rangers found Grunwald's vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead later that day.

More at Man missing at Rocky Mountain National Park | 9news.com

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Garrison says his brother is a very experienced hiker and climber as well as a fit trail runner— and is still holding out hope he’s alive.
“He’s lived in the wilderness for months before. He could definitely survive. I just hope he’s not hurt because we don’t know if he was climbing or what he was doing,” Garrison said.

Crews searching for missing man in Rocky Mountain National Park

 

[KatzEye]

Rocky Mountain National Park

RMNP post for Steve. Lots of comments, but a few mention the weather in the area that day.

 

[rainynights]

Grunwald is described as 5’6,” 145 pounds, brown hair medium length and curly. He wears black rectangular glasses. He is described as a fit trail runner, backpacker, and climber with backcountry experience. Clothing may include a brown beanie, yellow pants, a blue top layer and blue or red shoes. He may be wearing a green Camp climbing helmet.

Authorities say they are not sure of his exact route or destination, but it is believed that he may have tried to do the Glacier Gorge Traverse on August 29. He was last seen in Boulder on August 28.

The Glacier Gorge Traverse is an expansive route including 11 peak summits over roughly 19 miles. It has dangerous climbing and difficult terrain.

Search continues for man missing in Rocky Mountain National Park - KRDO

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Sean Garrison, Grunwald's brother, told CNN that his brother is an adept hiker and climber who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and most of the peaks in the Adirondacks in New York, along with other locations across the US and Mexico.

Grunwald went to the Ranger School in New York and has taken survival classes, Garrison said, urging anyone who saw his brother or knows anything about his hike on August 28 or 29 to call the tip line.

Rocky Mountain National Park rangers are searching for a hiker missing for more than two weeks - CNN

 

[GraceG]

Bumping for Steve.

 

[Vail]

It doesn't really tells us in these reports, but by now they would have already tried helicopters with heat, pinging, dogs and man trackers and we are only hearing about it now because they have exhausted SAR. As someone who was training to be a ranger, he would know they'd report him missing and deploy a search when he didn't return to his car, and he would also have everything he needed to not get lost. For his family's sake, I hope someone comes across him and the mountain didn't claim him.

 

[rainynights]

Search continues in Rocky Mountain expanse for missing Greenville hiker

Weather is expected to be more favorable to safely searching for Grunwald throughout the rest of this week, the Parks Service said. Searchers are camping Monday night in the Lake Powell area to begin search efforts again early Tuesday morning.

“He’s lived in the wilderness for months before. He could definitely survive. I just hope he’s not hurt because we don’t know if he was climbing or what he was doing,” Sean Garrison, Grunwald’s brother, told a Denver TV station.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Hoping for the best, that he's somewhere safe and will be found and rescued soon.

 

[NoSI]

RIP Steven...

Body found during search for missing man at RMNP | 9news.com

 

[NoSI]

Body found in RMNP believed to be missing New York man

...
After he was reported missing, park rangers found Grunwald's vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. On Monday, Sept. 14, search crews found a body in the Notch below McHenrys and Powell Peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).

The Glacier Gorge Traverse is an expansive route including 11 peak summits over roughly 19 miles. It entails sections of fifth class climbing and difficult terrain, according to the release.
...
RMNP rangers completed an on-scene investigation and recovery operations took place by helicopter Monday. The body was flown to a landing zone in the Wild Basin area of RMNP and transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office. The coroner will perform an autopsy and determine a cause of death.
...

Source: Body found during search for missing man at RMNP | 9news.com

 

[NoSI]

Powell Peak

14ers.com • 13er Powell Peak

 

[NoSI]

McHenrys Peak

14ers.com • 13er McHenrys Peak

 

[NoSI]

Whatever happened, happened a little less than half way in... at least that's what it looks like on the map. From what I saw in trip reports, this area is described as technical, airy, exposed...

I will research more tonight.

RIP Steven...

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Sorry for this outcome. Condolences to his family and friends.

 

[NoSI]

A bit more info on the Glacier Gorge Traverse/part of traverse where Steven was located:

".... More easy hiking got us to the summit of Powell Peak (4h20m). This marked the halfway point, peak-wise, but started the more technical terrain and our pace would drop considerably.

McHenrys Peak isn’t very far from Powell, but there is an impressive gash separating the two. We descended down 3rd and 4th class climbing to a very cool ledge traverse that brought us to the saddle. We proceeded from here directly to the summit up a steep (5.2?) headwall with great holds, though exposed climbing. We topped McHenrys at 9:50 a.m. (5h13m)"

Such a tragic outcome.

Source: The Glacier Gorge Traverse

 

[NoSI]

Autopsy is back...

"On Tuesday, Larimer County Coroner James Wilkerson positively identified the body as Grunwald and ruled the death an accident due to multiple blunt force injuries."

Source: Searchers in Rocky Mountain National Park find body of missing New York man

 

[JerseyGirl]

Body of Missing 24-Year-Old Hiker Who Was 'Always Smiling' Found in Rocky Mountain National Park

Authorities said the body of Steven Grunwald, 24, was found in the Notch below McHenrys and Powell Peaks in the Colorado park.

Recovery operations — which included a helicopter and a team of rescue dogs — were made difficult by poor conditions, including snow, strong winds and windchills of 11 degrees on Saturday.

The Larimer County Coroner's Office confirmed Grunwald's identity, and determined he died on Aug. 29 of multiple blunt force injuries. The manner of death was deemed accidental.

 

[NoSI]

I was wondering about that. You can google "McHenrys Notch Couloir" and find multiple images to give you idea of area. I would post, but not sure it is allowed since they are often images taken by individuals.

An Estes Park man fell 75 feet and suffered multiple serious injuries in the same area during a July accident.

Link for accident in July: Fall in Rocky Mountain National Park requires man to be airlifted out

Source: Identity of Rocky Mountain National Park hiker found dead confirmed