Conrad was last seen in Silverton, Colorado on August 21, 2006. He took hikes in the mountains twice a day. He walked off down Lackawanna Road in the morning and never returned. An extensive search of the area turned up no sign of him. Before his disappearance, Conrad found out he was dying of heart disease. Some of his loved ones theorized he went into the mountains to die rather than waste away at home, but there is little evidence to support any theory.

Conrad was well-known in the local area for his generosity and his support of environmental causes. His case remains unsolved.