The body of Thomas Howard — the 63-year-old Westporter missing for nearly a week — was found this morning in the Adirondack High Peaks. He had planned to summit Mt. Colden.
North Country Public Radio reports he signed into a trail registry last Friday. He planned be out of the woods by Sunday.
His route — the Trap Dike — is a steep rock slide, used to summit the 4,700-foot peak. It is always dangerous, the radio network reports; in winter it requires technical ice climbing skills and gear.
A snowstorm swept through the region when Howard planned to hike. Lake Placid reported nearly 15 inches of snow.
Howard was reported overdue on Wednesday.
North Country Public Radio says, “Forest rangers led an extensive search in the area in recent days, climbing ice walls, hiking through deep snow and searching from the air with the help of the New York State Police Aviation helicopter.”
State officials released a statement from the Howard family, expressing gratitude to the community and searchers.
Thomas Howard