Student last seen at eatery

Searchers checking Prospect Mountain

Felix Doligosa Jr., Rocky Mountain News

Thursday, June 29, 2006

ESTES PARK - Searchers combed through the rocky and steep slopes of Prospect Mountain on Wednesday in search of a missing Nepalese exchange student who was seen last week eating at a deli atop the 8,700-foot peak.

Credit-card records show Pratistha Budhathoki spent less than $10 on food last Thursday at the tourist spot located just south of the city and overlooking the Estes Valley, according to police.

Three days earlier, the 20-year-old was reported missing.

"We feel pretty confident she was here," said Cmdr. Wes Kufeld, spokesman for Estes Park police. "This is our best lead."

Clerks at the eatery identified Budhathoki from a flier and said she ate by herself at about 1 p.m. and then left the store.

Investigators believe she may have tried to hike down the mountain.

Eight people and two dogs from the Larimer County Search and Rescue and the Boulder County Sheriff's Office searched near the bottom and top of the mountain, but found no trace of the woman.

"There are lots of gulches where one can fall," said Kufeld. "She possibly could have gotten hurt."

At the base of the mountain is the Estes Park Aerial Tramway - the only transportation up the 1,100 vertical feet of granite along Prospect Mountain.

Budhathoki was reported missing June 19 after she did not show up the day before at her job at the Munchin' House in downtown Estes Park.

On the day she was supposed to be at work, credit-card records show she bought food at the B&B Food Mart in Estes Park, said Kufeld.

On June 20, someone used her cell phone from Denver to check her voicemail, according to investigators. The call may have come from atop Prospect Mountain because the phone signal may have used a Denver tower, Kufeld said.

The search is expected to continue today.