Still Missing

Everett Ruess walking in the Sierras

If you read Jon Krakauer's excellent book "Into The Wild", you learned of an earlier version of quixotic Chris McCandless. Poet, artist and adventurer Everett Ruess, age twenty, disappeared into the wilds of the Utah wilderness in 1934. Like McCandless, the lure of places untouched by men proved seductive to Ruess, whose remains have never been found.

And that remains the case today, as a previous claim that the wanderer's body had been discovered - complete with a tale of murder - has now been disputed and most likely proven incorrect. A second analysis of the recovered bones cannot replicate the results of earlier forensic identity testing. You can read about it here: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13613247

I have enjoyed many days camping and wandering the winding trails of the Rocky Mountains - never enough days, it seems. The attraction that ultimately completely enchanted McCandless and Ruess is familiar to me, and probably to most folks who spend any extended time alone in nature.

As a species, we've spent tens of thousands of years of our history living in partnership with our planet; it's only relatively recently that we've turned towards mastering the globe's resources, relentlessly draining them as we mindlessly multiply. When we walk in nature, we are reminded of our place - it's something we should all do more often.

In any case, the disappearance of Everett Ruess remains a mystery. That's the best place to stop the story. And fitting for a young man who routinely plunged off the proscribed path on an outward-bound solo journey to discover an inner light.

To learn more about Ruess and see his art:
http://everettruess.net/#