Rangers mount search for missing Omaha man, 23, at Rocky Mountain National Park

Rangers also were asking the public’s help in providing any information that might help in their investigation. According to the post, Kieckhafer was last seen in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of the park on Thursday around 5:20 p.m. when he was dropped off by a ride-share service. Upper Beaver Meadows is approximately a mile west of the Beaver Meadows Entrance along U.S. Highway 36 on the east side of the park.

Kieckhafer was last seen wearing a dark-colored T-shirt, dark-colored pants and a dark-colored baseball cap with no logo. He was carrying a small maroon daypack. He is described as 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds with short blond hair and a mustache and blue-green eyes.

In reality, Kieckhafer’s family has been trying to trace his whereabouts since Thursday, including following his route and traveling to the park.

Justin Kieckhafer, his older brother, said their mother thought he was scheduled to work Thursday morning and woke him up before she left for work around 7 a.m.

Their sister got home at 7:30 a.m. and he had already left. She later contacted neighbors who have security cameras. The last video evidence indicates he left about 7:05 a.m.

He drove his car, a silver Hyundai Sonata, which was last picked up on camera near North Platte, Nebraska, between 11 a.m. and noon Thursday, Justin Kieckhafer said. However, police in Greeley, Colorado, told the family Tuesday morning that his car had been found in a Walmart parking lot in Garden City, Colorado, a Greeley suburb.

Financial records accessed by the family indicate he made purchases at a Walmart and an O’Reilly auto parts store, Justin Kieckhafer said. They also indicated an Uber charge.

With no video records of his car traveling beyond North Platte, the family initially thought he had caught an Uber there.

But Greeley police obtained Uber records and determined Tuesday that Blake Kieckhafer had been picked up at the Walmart in Greeley and dropped off a mile from the park entrance, Justin Kieckhafer said. National park officials told the family Tuesday that Blake Kieckhafer’s park pass, which his records indicated he’d purchased, had been scanned at the park entrance Thursday.

Justin Kieckhafer said his brother has never left on his own without telling anyone, friends or family, about his plans. He has visited the park area before, but always with friends or family.

Blake Kieckhafer had gone to dinner with friends on Aug. 5.

He appeared to be in a good mood and didn’t mention a trip, Justin Kieckhafer said. He also spoke with his mother the night of Aug. 6 and seemed to be in good spirits. All he took with him was a small backpack and his laptop, but no toiletries.

Anyone who has seen Kieckhafer or has information that could help investigators is asked to call or text the NPS Investigative Services Branch Tip Line 888-653-0009, report online at go.nps.gov/SubmitATip or email nps_isb@nps.gov.

Those who submit information do not have to identify themselves.