Joseph Wood, a New York City book editor, was attending Unity '99 - a five-day convention of minority journalists that drew to Seattle more than 6,000 reporters, editors, and photographers. He was seen in the morning of July 8, 1999 at the conference. His rental car was found in a parking lot at Mt. Rainier National Park. A park-entry slip in his rental car showed Joseph entered the park on July 8 at 12:29 p.m. Park officials learned that Wood intended to be back in Seattle on July 9th by 3:15 p.m. to meet a friend.
A hiker believes he encountered Joseph last Thursday between 3 and 4 p.m. near Comet Falls They were off trail but following the tracks of other hikers, in steep terrain above an unnamed creek. The hiker said he turned around and was heading back because he felt a snow bridge over the creek was unsafe. The hiker saw the man he believes was Joseph continue up the trail the hiker was descending.
Joseph never reclaimed his luggage from his hotel room, and friends and family have not heard from him since.
NamUs #MP23390 - The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Writer Lost on Mt. Rainier Driven by Sense of Mission
Local News | Hunt For Man Focuses On Comet Falls -- Missing Editor's Rental Car Found At Mount Rainier | Seattle Times Newspaper
