Rangers to scale back efforts to find missing hiker Leo DuFour, unless more clues are found
By Mike Lynch
The rescue mission for a missing Canadian hiker in a remote part of the southern High Peaks is transitioning from an active search to a recovery effort at midnight, the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced Monday.
Forest rangers and state police have been searching for 22-year-old Leo DuFour since Sunday, Dec. 1, after his father reported him missing at 2:30 a.m. that day.
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DuFour signed the Mount Adams trail register on Friday, Nov. 29, writing that he was doing a one-day solo trip to Allen Mountain, but never returned. His vehicle was found at the trailhead parking lot by searchers.
After today, the search will transition to what DEC refers to as a “limited continuous search.” This will result in the suspension of the active daily field search but will include some air searches by state helicopters and backcountry patrols when the weather permits. DEC will also conduct outreach to the public.
The transition was made because the deep snow and frigid temperatures were putting the searchers at risk. Wind chill temperatures have been below zero in recent days.
“Accessibility to the search area, weather and terrain and risk to rescuers and searchers is a reason that we’re transitioning,” said forest ranger Jamison Martin, who has served as incident commander during the mission. “Snow is at least 4 feet deep up at the summit, making searching essentially impossible. It snowed every day since Leo went missing, and it’s not gotten better.”
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The operation will upgrade to a more active search if any leads turn up on the whereabouts of DuFour, according to the DEC.
The Mount Adams trailhead, located in the town of Newcomb, is regularly used by hikers attempting the 4,340-foot Allen Mountain, which is considered one of the most remote of the Adirondacks’ 46 High Peaks. Its summit is about nine miles from the trailhead via unofficial trails.
Few clues were found. DuFour’s last known location was near the summit of the mountain: rangers found a water bottle above 3,500 feet in the slide area, Martin said. Searchers also found a set of tracks going up Allen but nothing coming down. Rangers believe the tracks were DuFour’s but couldn’t definitely prove that fact, Martin said. Rescuers also determined his cell phone connected to a satellite in two locations on the hike.
DuFour did have winter hiking gear, including snowshoes.
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Since Dec. 1, 59 forest rangers have searched nearly 400 miles by foot. State police used two helicopters to transport crews, drop off supplies and conduct aerial searches as weather conditions allowed.
The department is asking the public to refrain from searching the mountain or for DuFour on their own. DEC said forest rangers had to rescue someone after they crashed their car on Upper Works Road in Newcomb Sunday. The person had planned to search for DuFour.
“Search conditions are about as rough as you could imagine wind chills — snow, white-out conditions,” Martin said. “The professionals have been at it for a week solid, and we can’t find things. So we ask everybody — it’s obviously dangerous up there — to please stay out of the search area.”
DuFour’s previous hiking experience includes the Adirondacks, according to his TikTok account.
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Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 518-897-2000.
This post was updated with new information from the DEC at 4:28 p.m.
Questions: How is it known he was on the summit? Was he able to make a call? Where was the water bottle found? What does it mean that searchers saw “footprints to the car?” That last part suggests he (or someone) was walking toward the car. Is that correct? If, so what does it mean?
Hope the searchers stay safe out there. Nasty conditions.
Has anyone checked his icloud for his last photo? I would wonder if he took a selfie at the top and slipped backwards…just a thought.
Reply to several comments: All accounts I have seen say “footprints leading away from the car”, soon lost in new snow. The summit of Allen is wooded and very small, so, safe from slipping off; however, the expected descent down the long slide to the west could be icy and treacherous. If the northwest wind was blinding and fierce, it’s quite possible he might try to descend on the leeward (east) side, putting him further from his car or help. I hiked Allen in summer, and the last 4 miles were unmarked “herd path”, sometimes difficult to follow even with wear showing on the ground. In winter, with no other prints, it would just look like plain woods, and heavy snow falling would obscure any landmark(like the mountain) at distance. ADK 46er #5999, NE 111er #585
What a seemingly sad ending to a young climber’s life. After 11 days of subfreezing temps and deep/continuous snowfall, it would take a very skilled and really industrious mountaineer to survive so long. Our prayers go out to his family and friends as they face an unkind future.
The only accounts I’ve seen say “footprints leading away from the car, soon lost” to new snow. Allen Mountain has a very small, wooded summit, not easy to fall or slip off: however, if he did reach it, a descent down the slide could be very treacherous–it’s a really long, pretty smooth slab. Additionally, in strong winds and blinding snow, it would be very possible to try to descend on the (leeward) west side, which would leave him ultra-far from his car or any help. On a calm day, a slide/”ski” down the slide might be possible, but I don’t think he ever had a window like that. I climbed Allen in summer, and that was difficult enough!
ADK 46er #5999, NE 111 #585
One more point: in his young life, he had some very good experience: on his TikTok account, he shows pictures on the summit of Katahdin, one of the most challenging mountains in the Northeast; and recently completed a trip over Algonquin and Marcy on very icy trails. Not a novice, but it looks like the victim of increasingly adverse weather conditions, and no companions.
I wonder why anyone would go hiking in the Adirondack during winter, yet alone. Weather can change on a dime. Before heading out, they should check the weather for any potential forecast of snow precipitation. They should constantly stay in contact with family and let them know their last coordination so it would make it easier to locate the direction they were going in the event something like this happens. My heart feels for the parent. Being a parent of a young adult son myself, I cannot imagine what they are going through.
Many areas have a “higher summits” type of forecast, usually provided at ranger stations as well. You’ve just prompted me to find this, available for Mt. Marcy, close by to Allen Mtn.:
https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Marcy/forecasts/1629
It provides figures for both the peak 1629m (5345 ft) and base level 1000m (3281 ft).
mountain-forecast. com can be used for any peak in the world–now that I look, Allen Mtn is listed and can be searched directly, as can multiple others, not just the High Peaks.
Leo is a kindred spirit, a brother, a friend, a son, and grandson. I have always tried to inspire young people to find and love what I always find in the mountains. I’m so sad that what was supposed to be a fun adventure ended in tragedy for him and his family. RIP Leo
I won’t comment at this time on this possible tragedy.
However, IMO, winter is the BEST time to experience the Adirondacks. Experience, preparation, and safety measures are hugely important – but bad luck, accidents, and one’s judgement in the face of adversities are variables that cannot always be countered by “experience” alone. I am still hoping for a positive outcome as deep snow can sometimes be an insulator and a lifesaver. But I, as well, cannot imagine the family’s stress at this time. Best wishes for all concerned.
Bonjour from Montreal, I still have hope that he will be found alive. I understand that the conditions are difficult the climate didn’t work towards his favour especially since that day that he went missing it started to get colder and colder without forgetting the wild life out there but I really hope that we will find him soon for him and his family
I am an old man now and I lost one of my classmate at the law school Gerry Roufs ( a navigator lost near Cape Horn ). I remembered him telling me that if ever he loose his life at sea…he would considered he had a great life ….Hope this young man had a great life… but certainly missed great dreams also.
God bless his friends and family.
Russell Flanagan, Montréal Canada