Found Deceased NY - Alex Stevens, 28, Wallface Mountain, Adirondacks, 2 Sept 2017

[JerseyGirl]

Alex Stevens, of Hopewell, NJ, was last seen by hikers on Sept. 2 at the base of Wallface Mountain in the Newcomb, New York-area in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains.

Stevens had possibly planned to camp in the area, officials told the Post-Star.

His vehicle was recovered at the Upper Works Trailhead parking lot.

Hopewell Township police officers are also searching for Stevens in his hometown.

Family members reported him missing Sunday, September 10. That day, forest rangers found Stevens' vehicle at the Upper Works Trailhead and an entry in the trailhead register indicated Stevens planned to spend three days in the wilderness.

Stevens brought a hammock instead of a sleeping bag and apparently was not prepared to spend a lot of time in the backcountry.

Police described him as 5-feet, 11-inches tall, 220 pounds, with blue eyes and long brown hair, which he wears in a bun. He was last seen wearing sandals, shorts and a dark blue tee-shirt.

http://www.timesunion.com/allnews/a...-for-missing-hiker-hits-one-week-12202062.php
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/09/nj_28_still_missing_after_hike_in_ny_mountains.html

 

[Vedder]

I am not a outdoors person so please pardon my ignorance on the subject - is it common to bring a hammock rather than a sleeping bag?

 

[DQN]

I am not a outdoors person so please pardon my ignorance on the subject - is it common to bring a hammock rather than a sleeping bag?

No it is not common to bring a hammock, it would be only if you were setting up a camp with a tent and sleeping bag etc, and you laid around on it during the day outside. I can only say he isn't a true camper at heart. He may not wanted to be on the ground with the bugs etc. and was not bringing a tent. You can't bring a sleeping bag unless you have a tent to put it in and everything else. I grew up in the Adirondacks and it can get pretty cool to cold there at night.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

folks who hike the AT (experienced hikers) often sleep in hammocks. Not sure how common, but it happens a lot. Yes, they have tents and other gear as well, but they do indeed sleep in hammocks sometimes so maybe not all that odd IMO. (I read hikers blogs on TheTrek website (https://thetrek.co/), where AT and Pacific Crest hikers share their stories and photos, etc..)

 

[Dalagali]

folks who hike the AT (experienced hikers) often sleep in hammocks. Not sure how common, but it happens a lot. Yes, they have tents and other gear as well, but they do indeed sleep in hammocks sometimes so maybe not all that odd IMO. (I read hikers blogs on TheTrek website (https://thetrek.co/), where AT and Pacific Crest hikers share their stories and photos, etc..)

Found deceased [emoji20]: https://www.northcountrypublicradio...a-search-in-the-deepest-adirondack-wilderness
Sep 18, 2017 — Updated Monday, 5:30 pm: Alex Stevens, age 28, was found dead at approximately noon today on Wallface Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks. There are no details yet on the cause of the fatality. State police and NYS forest rangers say an investigation is continuing. The missing man vanished early in September. Brian Mann will have details tomorrow morning during Morning Edition and on The Eight O'Clock Hour.

His disappearance triggered a massive search in what is arguably the most remote and difficult terrain in New York state.

More at link

RIP, Alex.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DQN]

folks who hike the AT (experienced hikers) often sleep in hammocks. Not sure how common, but it happens a lot. Yes, they have tents and other gear as well, but they do indeed sleep in hammocks sometimes so maybe not all that odd IMO. (I read hikers blogs on TheTrek website (https://thetrek.co/), where AT and Pacific Crest hikers share their stories and photos, etc..)

Then I stand corrected, thank you. The article as usual just states he brought a hammock. I never heard of it but as you said you have read about it on hiking blogs. There are also moose and black bear in the Adirondacks.

 

[Elainera]

At about noon Monday, a body was discovered near Wallface Pond, in Essex County, about 10 miles south of Lake Placid, and positively identified as Alex Stevens, 28, of Hopewell, a DEC news release said.

He went into into the Western High Peaks Wilderness on Sept. 2 for a three-day trip. Officials said he apparently wasn't properly equipped for such an outing.

http://poststar.com/news/local/dec-...cle_15e23dec-7626-50e8-a8e6-806b0b022b59.html

RIP Alex.

 

[Elainera]

Three days ago they had already found some of his belongings.

From Sep 15:

DEC Forest Rangers say they found a personal item belonging to missing hiker Alexander Stevens near the summit of Wallface Mountain.

http://www.twcnews.com/nys/capital-...2/search-missing-hiker-wallface-mountain.html

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

Then I stand corrected, thank you. The article as usual just states he brought a hammock. I never heard of it but as you said you have read about it on hiking blogs. There are also moose and black bear in the Adirondacks.

Believe me when I say I have certainly learned A LOT from those blogs - about hiking AND people. It is a fabulous site if anyone is interested in that type of thing or just want to read some pretty deep insights about life.

That said, so very sad for this young man. I hope that whatever happened was quick and that those who know and love Alex will find comfort and healing when they are ready.

 

[Vedder]

RIP Alex. I hope he didn't suffer.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Some background info, an autopsy is scheduled for today:

Stevens began a three-day hike on September 2nd at Wallface Mountain in Essex County, New York. After recording his hike duration at the trailhead register and speaking with fellow hikers, no one else saw or spoke to him and, though he carried a mobile phone, he had not reached out to friends or family. When he did not meet up with friends in New York City as planned, family members reported him missing on September 10th.

The search proved difficult. Dense forest growth reduced visibility to between 8-10 feet, and getting to and from search locations took more than two hours one way. To maximize daylight hours, searchers began sleeping on the mountain by September 15th.

The Newcomb, NY, Essex County Coroner said that there was no visible trauma to Stevens’ body and that nothing looked suspicious. No food remained in the bag Stevens carried.

http://mercerme.com/body-of-missing-hiker-alex-stevens-found-near-wallface-mountain/

 

[Ifnowthenwhat]

Hi. The anniversary of Alex’s death is coming and he was one of my oldest friends. I’m still not healed. I wanted to come here to shed some light in hopes that it helps me or anyone else in Alex’s position.
Alex ran away to Wallface with no intention of returning home again, and no intention of surviving. He suffered from long term untreated Lyme which caused severe paranoia and depression. His last year on earth with us was... indescribable. He left no note, no proof, that this was his intention- but those of us who’ve loved him and known him since we were kids just know.

He was the best, most loving and caring human I’ve ever met. I miss him so much still every single day, I wish I could’ve stopped him and I wish there was something more any of us could’ve done to help. His family life was complex. He refused treatment, he coped by disappearing for chunks of time to clear his head- so the initial few days of him missed were not unusual. But he WAS an experienced hiker and outdoorsman, so as soon as I heard the reports of his gear and his sandals I knew he wasn’t planning on coming home.


He hid from the search parties. He hid himself from the helicopters. He didn’t return the calls from the people on wallface yelling his name. He wanted to be alone, so he could be at peace until his time came. I hate that he did it. I hate that we didn’t know. I hate that the search parties had to work tirelessly to find him when we knew he was running from them. I hate it all. But I love Alex. I always will. He was and forever will be such an important and special part of our lives.

 

[Ifnowthenwhat]

No it is not common to bring a hammock, it would be only if you were setting up a camp with a tent and sleeping bag etc, and you laid around on it during the day outside. I can only say he isn't a true camper at heart. He may not wanted to be on the ground with the bugs etc. and was not bringing a tent. You can't bring a sleeping bag unless you have a tent to put it in and everything else. I grew up in the Adirondacks and it can get pretty cool to cold there at night.

hi, it’s been almost 4 years since you commented. But I left some information about Alex in a reply. I’m still not okay, I miss him terribly every single day. But I hope it sheds some light on why he made the choices he did that week.

 

[Silver_produce0]

Hi. The anniversary of Alex’s death is coming and he was one of my oldest friends. I’m still not healed. I wanted to come here to shed some light in hopes that it helps me or anyone else in Alex’s position.
Alex ran away to Wallface with no intention of returning home again, and no intention of surviving. He suffered from long term untreated Lyme which caused severe paranoia and depression. His last year on earth with us was... indescribable. He left no note, no proof, that this was his intention- but those of us who’ve loved him and known him since we were kids just know.

He was the best, most loving and caring human I’ve ever met. I miss him so much still every single day, I wish I could’ve stopped him and I wish there was something more any of us could’ve done to help. His family life was complex. He refused treatment, he coped by disappearing for chunks of time to clear his head- so the initial few days of him missed were not unusual. But he WAS an experienced hiker and outdoorsman, so as soon as I heard the reports of his gear and his sandals I knew he wasn’t planning on coming home.


He hid from the search parties. He hid himself from the helicopters. He didn’t return the calls from the people on wallface yelling his name. He wanted to be alone, so he could be at peace until his time came. I hate that he did it. I hate that we didn’t know. I hate that the search parties had to work tirelessly to find him when we knew he was running from them. I hate it all. But I love Alex. I always will. He was and forever will be such an important and special part of our lives.

I’m so sorry for your loss. And I’m sorry for Alex’s suffering. I hope that Alex, and all of you, may find peace.