Search Party Finds No Sign of Fossett

A team of athletes and expert mountaineers have ended a week-long search for millionaire Steve Fossett, and while they found no sign of the adventurer, miles of rugged terrain can now be eliminated from future searches. Fossett disappeared September 3 after taking off from a remote Nevada ranch on what was supposed to be a short pleasure flight. It appears any evidence of Fossett is now the million dollar prize.

Groups of volunteers are winning the praise of local authorities who don’t have the resources to continue searching the remote area without some sort of substantial lead. Undersherriff Joe Sanford said,

We appreciate any help from anyone who has a desire to go out. I truly believe this thing will come to a close through an outdoorsman.

The group had a run-ins with a bear, bobcat, rattlesnake and scorpion. In August, another investor and alpinist will bring a team of 15 climbers and mountain guides with back country experience to another area of the Wassuks, where it is believed Fossett most likely crashed. [S-T]

Steve Fossett photo by Mary Frances Howard, used with permission.