Rocky Mountain National Park rangers found the body of a 66-year-old Fort Collins woman who was reported overdue from a hike this week.
Rangers were notified Tuesday night that the woman, identified by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office as Debra Stith, had not returned from a day hike as planned, according to a news release from the national park.
Rangers found Stith’s body early Wednesday near Chasm Lake on the south side of the lake, in a scree slope, according to the release.
Park officials said Stith fell in the rocky area. Chasm Lake is not far below Long’s Peak, the park’s highest point. The lake’s altitude is 11,760 feet.
Rocky Mountain National Park searchers were aided in the recovery by the Mesa Verde Interagency Helitak crew. Stith’s body was flown via a long-line operation to the Upper Beaver Meadows helipad, where she was transferred to the Boulder County coroner’s office.
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Updated at 8:30 a.m., July 8, 2025: This story was updated to include the identity of the woman who died.
