Rocky Mountain National Park ranger Jeff Christensen once told a friend: “You know, if I ever die while at work in the mountains, do not cry for me because you will know that I died doing what I love.”
On Sunday, those words became an epitaph for the likeable 31-year-old ranger whose body was recovered Saturday in a remote part of the rugged park.
So far, park staff will say only that Christensen likely perished as a result of a fall. Few other details of his ordeal have been released.
Christensen’s disappearance while on his first solo patrol into the Mummy Range on July 29 prompted a massive air and ground search by more than 200 people, and included helicopters and rescue dogs.
But after a hiker discovered his body in an alpine valley below the steep face of Ypsilon Mountain, the hope that persisted after reports of gunshots and clicks on the park radio system gave way to grief.
“There is a feeling of great loss today among all of those involved with the search,” said park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson.
Patterson said it may be several days before more details are released. The Larimer County coroner’s office was performing an autopsy Sunday.
Scott Sticha, another park spokesman, said the focus Sunday was on planning a memorial service with Christensen’s family.
This was Christensen’s fourth season as a park ranger. His first three were spent on the park’s west side.
Dale and Chris Christensen, Jeff’s parents, released a brief statement thanking park staff, the incident-management team, search volunteers, Estes Park, and the hiker who found their son’s body.
They also shared the eerily foreshadowing remark their son once made to a friend, that ended:
“But if I die in an accident on my way to an office job, then cry for me because you will know I was miserable and not doing what I loved.”
Staff writer Theo Stein can be reached at 303-820-1657 or tstein@denverpost.com.
