Body of missing climber recovered from Longs Peak

Searchers have recovered the body of a Colorado man who was reported missing after he told friends he planned to climb the highest summit in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Park officials say 25-year-old Peter Jeffris’ body was spotted by a helicopter search crew Thursday about 200 feet below a popular route up Longs Peak.

Authorities believe the Broomfield man set out for the top of the 14,259-foot peak Sunday. His car was found at the Longs Peak trailhead after he didn’t show up for work Monday.

Ground teams had been searching more than 20 square miles around the peak, but high winds and cold weather hampered the effort.

Thousands of hikers reach the summit of Longs Peak every year, but some routes require technical climbing skills, especially in wintry weather.