Ryder Johnson, Missing Eldora Staffer: "He Is Not in Trouble," Family Writes

Update: Earlier today, in the context of reporting about the disappearance of Seth Kienzle in the Boulder area, we noted that Ryder Johnson, who vanished on January 17 (see our previous coverage below), remains missing as well.

But that doesn't mean those who care about him have abandoned hope.

Indeed, his family recently wrote a message to him — it appears on the Boulder County Sheriff's Office Facebook page — in which they emphasize that "he is not in trouble and everyone is praying for him to be found safe and sound."

Moreover, a private reward has been established through Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers, whose page adds information about the puzzling case.

The statement reads:

“Our family and friends continue to search for Ryder and we remain hopeful. We want Ryder to know he is loved as mom says “from the mountains to the stars,” he is not in any trouble and everyone is praying for him to be found safe and sound. We appreciate the media getting his picture out to the public and if anyone sees Ryder please immediately contact the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. A private reward has recently been established through Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers for tips or information helping to find Ryder. If anyone with information prefers to remain anonymous they can contact Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.nococrimestoppers.com. The outpouring of concern and support from all corners of our community, including the incredible volunteer search effort covering thousands of acres, is truly heartwarming and a reminder of all that is good in the world. We are equally grateful for the professionalism and persistence of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Rocky Mountain Rescue, City and County Open Space rangers and all the other public agencies involved.”

Meanwhile, the Crime Stoppers page details the circumstances like so:

Ryder was last seen at his place of employment, Eldora Ski Resort, on January 17, 2016 at approximately 3:09 pm. Ryder’s vehicle was located in the area of the 5800 block of Gross Dam Road, Boulder County, Colorado, on January 17, 2015 at approximately 10 p.m.

The vehicle was parked at the Gross Dam overlook parking area. The vehicle was locked and later learned to be operational. Ryder’s cell phones were located in/near his vehicle. Ryders Eldora Ski Resort Identification was located near his vehicle. Ryder’ wallet and keys were not located.

Ryder was last seen wearing a black Eldora Ski jacket, black denim pants and black boots.

The Boulder County Sheriff's Office dispatch can be reached at 303-441-4444. Continue for our previous coverage.

Update, 7:29 a.m. February 1: It's been more than two weeks since twenty-year-old Ryder Johnson vanished after leaving his job at the Eldora ski area on January 17.

Thus far, there are no clues about his whereabouts — and while authorities haven't given up on their search, they compare the lack of clues in the case to the dearth of information about Lance Hering after he went missing in 2006.

Hering, the subject of the largest search in Boulder County history (and a 2007 Westword feature article), split in order to avoid returning to military service. He was found in Washington state circa 2008.

Here's the missing poster created by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office....



The photo on the left is a booking photo, and CriminalFaces.com lists an arrest of Ryder on Christmas Day 2015. But the offense is minor: criminal mischief.

If you have any information, you're encouraged to contact the BCSO at the number in the poster above.

Look below to see a Boulder Daily Camera video about the initial search for Johnson, followed by our previous coverage.


Original post,  5:34 a.m. January 19: Last week, we reported about the death of Logan Salviano at the Vail ski resort — apparently the first Colorado skiing casualty of 2016.

Now, twenty-year-old Ryder Johnson, an employee at Eldora, has been reported missing and is the subject of an ongoing search.

At this point, though, his disappearance doesn't appear to be skiing-related.

It's more mysterious than that.

The Boulder County Sheriff's Office, which is taking part in the search, has released the following photo of Johnson....


...and his Facebook page features additional portraits, including the one at the top of this post, as well as this one:


According to the BCSO, Johnson, whose city of residence is listed as Lafayette, was last seen leaving his job at Eldora at approximately 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 17.

When he didn't show up that afternoon as expected, he was reported missing.

Then, at around 10 p.m. on Sunday, a deputy found Johnson's vehicle parked on the 5800 block of Flagstaff Road, near Gross Reservoir in Boulder County.

Here's an interactive graphic showing the area. If you have problems seeing the image, click "View on Google Maps.


This discovery prompted local agencies to begin a full-scale search at 8 a.m. Monday, January 18.

Participants included representatives of Rocky Mountain Rescue, Front Range Rescue Dogs, City of Boulder Park Rangers, County of Boulder Parks Rangers, Denver Water Board personnel and an Eldorado Canyon State Park ranger, as well as BCSO deputies.

A helicopter was also deployed, with efforts focused on Gross Reservoir and the Walker Ranch open space area.

Thus far, however, there's been no sign of Johnson.


The search is expected to resume again today.

Johnson is described as a five-feet-ten-inch tall, 155 pounder with brown hair and brown eyes.

He was last known to be wearing a red-and-black coat with an Eldora ski resort jacket and black pants.

If you have any information about Johnson's whereabouts, you're encouraged to contact the Boulder County Sheriff's Office at 303-441-4444.