Search continues for 22-year-old man from Quebec, who set out to hike remote Allen Mountain
By Gwendolyn Craig
Forest rangers and State Police waded into deep snow on the nearly week-long search for a 22-year-old hiker from Canada who was reported missing by his father at 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 1, in the area of Allen Mountain in the central Adirondack Park town of Newcomb.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said Friday ongoing search efforts have so far not yielded any results. New York State Police issued a news release about the missing hiker on Wednesday, requesting the public’s help.
The Adirondack Explorer thanks its advertising partners. Become one of them.
UPDATE: Search efforts shift to recovery on Dec. 9
On Friday, DEC said nine forest rangers would remain in the backcountry over the weekend to continue searching for DuFour. The assignment will require them to camp in the backcountry for three nights due to the remoteness of the search area on Allen Mountain.
Who is the hiker and where is he hiking?
- Leo DuFour, 22, of Vandreuil, Quebec, arrived in the area on Nov. 29 to hike Allen Mountain, state police said in a news release. Allen Mountain is the 26th highest peak in the state at 4,360 feet, and one of the more remote High Peaks.
- DuFour was wearing a black Arc Teryx Coat, black shell pants, a tan winter hat, a black backpack and reflective sunglasses, according to a news release. He is about 150 pounds and is 5-foot 7-inches with brown hair.
What are the search efforts so far?
- Forest Ranger Scott Sabo, the original incident commander on scene, said in a video with DEC staff that about 14 rangers were on the ground searching for DuFour on the summit of Allen, working their way down drainages. Conditions had greatly deteriorated with snow and some wind gusts reaching 20 to 30 miles per hour. Sabo estimated snow depth at four feet above 3,000 feet of elevation.
“Allen Mountain is the most remote High Peak in the Adirondacks. It is extremely time consuming to get crews into the actual search area.”
Forest Ranger Scott Sabo
- The DEC said DuFour’s father expected his son back on Saturday night, and called State Police on Sunday morning. Police located DuFour’s car covered in snow at the Mount Adams trailhead, one of the trailheads that leads to Allen Mountain.
- Rangers found a set of tracks leading to DuFour’s vehicle, the DEC said, but recent snow in the area has made tracking difficult.
- Dozens of forest rangers have taken part in the search effort.
- At the scene Thursday, where snow filled the air on a cloudy, 30-degree morning, Incident Commander Forest Ranger Jamison Martin called the search conditions “heinous, horrific. We call it dog hair, where it’s basically a fence of vegetation and three foot of snow.”
- He continued: “Right now, the biggest issues we’re facing are weather and remoteness of the search location. We have lots of folks out in the field. It’s just extremely arduous. Access is our biggest issue because of the remoteness of the area. It’s 10 miles one way, getting people to that search area…. Having them have the time and energy to do anything functional after getting in there is one of our biggest issues. So we’ve tried to do stuff with aviation, but the weather has been a hindrance.”
- In addition to finding footprints shortly after starting the search, searchers found a water bottle, he said.
- DuFour signed the register at the Mount Adams trailhead on Friday, Nov. 29, indicating he was going on a one-day hike to Allen Mountain. He was the only person to sign the register that day.
What’s next?
- There are two backcountry outposts set up, and the State Police has joined the search using infrared technology, the DEC said. Rangers were taking turns with two- and three-day assignments, according to one of the ranger union representatives.
- Newcomb was still under a winter weather advisory Thursday morning, with periods of snow expected until 1 a.m. on Friday.
Police are seeking the public’s assistance with the search. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 518-897-2000.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available. The story was updated on Thursday, Dec. 5, after a visit to the search scene in Newcomb by reporter Mike Lynch, then again at 1:40 p.m. on Dec. 6. This story was updated again on Dec. 9 with a working number for state police.
The Adirondack Explorer thanks its advertising partners. Become one of them.
Top photo: Leo DuFour, of Canada, has been missing since leaving for a hike up Allen Mountain in Newcomb on Nov. 29. Photo courtesy of New York State Police
Please tell me they brushed the snow off his car and looked inside.
why taking so much risk in cold and winter times – I hope Jesus will save him –
Prayers for this young man and his family. After 5 days in these conditions, things look bleak, especially if he’s injured.
After 5 days in these conditions, things look bleak, especially if he’s injured. Prayers for this young man and his family.
As being a winter mountaineer we don’t look at this as being a risk taking experience. The community of climbers look at this differently. We can not wait for the winter season to begin. As for myself and many other we tend to go solo winter mountaineering and all no the risks involved as in many outdoor activities. Yes there’s questions that need answering no doubt. Leo had chosen a more remote area for his trip, I do not know his skill level at age 22. I know the area well where he is and spent many of my young years building my skills in the months of January and February. I am now a well trained Mountaineer able to spend many days and nights in sub freezing temperatures. I have personally saved in experience people that I have came in contact with on my expeditions. As a climber in the community I can and will not put judgment on Mr Dufour for my own personal reasons. I have a son also his age who is very outdoorsy and just recently told me he wants to go on a winter over night trip and will be over to get the proper gear from me. He has been on over nights in the White Mountains With me and seen and been in white outs sub zero temps that made him think twice. How I found this story I just went online looked for the most recent missing people in NY NH and found Mr Dufour. I sent the link to my son to let him ponder that story in his head. One day went by and I received a text message saying Dad can you come with me on my overnight trip I don’t think still don’t have enough experience even everything you are teaching me. I explained son you can go solo your experienced enough just start closer to home in a small area easy walk in and out and I will be close by that how we build confidence. With that being said I cannot stop thinking about Leo’s Dad, so sad I cannot do anything in the search for his missing son. The climbing community and winter mountaineers all wish and hope and pray for all the family members and Leo Please dear God find Leo and bring him home his family misses him.
Gwen,
Have you been to Allen, personally?
Serious question.
No man’s land.
It was bad weather timing, and not a great choice of where to go hiking, but i’m more than hoping The Rangers, Troopers, and any volunteers involved find Leo Defour as soon as possible. And only the best wishes for his Family, and friends.
Any indication if the hiker had snowshoes? Regardless, that is a VERY long day hike this time of year with such short days. Hopefully he had good survival gear/supplies/skills. Hopefully he is found soon.
Several common sense rules apply to hiking in the Adirondack s , or anywhere, never hike alone, know the weather forecast, be prepared to spend the nite, and know your personal limitations!
I saw a small black Subaru with a roof rack driven by a young man and a young woman passenger. Quebec plates. The dude looked a lot like that picture. Have they questioned whether he was truly alone?
Interesting not trying to make any false assumptions here but summited mt Marcy from upper works that Sunday after he went missing and seen the same Subaru parked at the other trailhead as I was leaving and upon arriving at Stewart’s in Long lake at about 10pm that night to fuel up and that same car pulled up next to me I didn’t get a good look but the guy highly resembled the dude missing, again prayers for his family and everyone that was involved in that agonizing search, but just can’t help but wonder if there’s more to the story
Seen the same Subaru after leaving the high peaks trailhead and again in Stewart’s in Long lake that Sunday between 10-11 pm with a young dude driving that highly resembled leo.. don’t know what to think here has me wondering tho if maybe there was an alterior motive at play here
Gwendolyn Craig, such a fantastic article and update on the Canadian hiker. I first read the story in T.U. Through a quick search, I found AdirondackExplorer and your awesome gallery of work.
I had questions about his situation and you came through with a bunch of info. Thank you for this! Have a great week.
D
It sounded like he had good equipment, but with those terrible conditions it would require a very strong will to survive those conditions if you get off-trail. Sounds like they pinged his cell phone north of Allen and currently are searching the Marcy Swamp area. Prayers he is found safe, prayers to his family waiting for any information. I’ve been off trail on the way back from Allen in the summer, there are several spots that can be confusing around the old logging trails running through there. It’s warming up today and another storm is headed in for mid-week. Hope he is hunkered down in a snow cave with a fire crackling and waiting for help!
Prayers for this young man and his loved ones
Up towards the summit, on the left as hiking up, there are several “holes” in the woods that aren’t easy to see. I noticed them this past June. Of course with all of the snow, there’s no way someone would see them. … climbing out of one would be very difficult. Kind of like a crevasse. I’m sure the Rangers are well aware of this … but just in case.