Littleton Police officer Steven Beare is missing from a solo ascent of the tallest mountain in Russia.
Beare, a Colorado National Guardsman who has deployed multiple times, went missing while climbing Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus region of southern Russia, according to his wife, Olivia Beare.
was supposed to return to a checkpoint on June 16, but did not report in. Tass reported that an eight-person, high-mountain search and rescue team was retracing Beare’s route, but Olivia Beare said they stopped looking on Sunday.
Mount Elbrus, at 18,510 feet, is also the tallest mountain in Europe.
on June 12 when he first arrived in Russia.
Beare last attempted phone calls from the mountain on Saturday, according to the Colorado Police Officers Foundation, which is . His exact location is unknown due to a severe blizzard.
CPOF described Beare as an experienced alpinist who was climbing Mount Elbrus in pursuit of bagging the seven highest peaks in the world. He has extensive training, including in cold weather situations.
The Beares have a 20-month-old son and Olivia is 11-weeks pregnant with their second child.
“We need him to come home to his wife and family and your help in this effort is both needed and greatly appreciated,” the CPOF’s website said.
