New York State authorities have resumed the search for a young Quebec man who did not return home after an overnight hike in the snow-covered Adirondack Mountains.
Léo Dufour, 22, of Vaudreuil, Que., went hiking on Nov. 29 and was expected back the following night, according to a statement from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
On Dec. 1 at 2:30 a.m., New York State Police (NYSP) contacted the DEC about an overdue hiker on Allen Mountain. NYSP located the subject’s car at the Mt. Adams trailhead, covered in snow.
Brandi Ashley, a spokesperson for NYSP, said on Wednesday that state forest rangers and police tracked Dufour’s cellphone and are now focusing on searching its location.
The hiker had signed into the trail register, she confirmed.
“His cellphone pinged on the opposite side of the mountain from the trail,” she said, noting that there is currently more than a metre of snow on the trail. “I can’t indicate or confirm if there are still footprints that they are following.”
NYSP were first alerted to the missing hiker on Saturday at around 11 p.m.
Dufour is said to have packed layers of clothing, winter accessories and equipment, including snow shoes, a head lamp and a stove with noodles, according to Ashley.
Aviation teams have not yet determined whether they can deploy helicopters on Wednesday due to weather conditions, she said.
Standing at 1,323 metres, Allen Mountain is located in Essex County, at the heart of the High Peaks Region.
There is currently a winter weather advisory in effect as multiple rounds of snow are expected Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night.
Laura Baker, a New York State outdoor licensed guide, said in an email on Wednesday that the weather is “survivable with the right skills, outdoor knowledge and calmness.”
“We have seen many examples of survival over the years,” she said.
However, Baker noted that hiking alone isn’t recommended and emphasized that solo hikers should sign in at trailhead kiosks as well as leave their hiking route plans with a reliable person, including a return time.
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