Remains Found on Trail Identified as Man Who Disappeared on Hike Nearly 6 Months Ago
Leo DuFour, 22, from Canada, traveled to the town of Newcomb, N.Y., to hike in the Adirondack Mountains
He was reported missing in late November, and his remains were found on May 10
"The DEC family offers our deepest condolences to the DuFour family for their loss," the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said in a statement shared with PEOPLE
The remains of a Canadian hiker who disappeared in November have been found in the Adirondack Mountains, officials said.
On the morning of Saturday, May 10, the remains of Leo DuFour were found on Mt. Adams Trail in Allen Mountain in Essex County, New York State Police said in a statement.
DuFour, a 23-year-old man from a suburb near Montreal, traveled to Newcomb to hike the Mt. Allen Trail in late November, state police said. According to AllTrails, the trail is considered a "challenging route" and usually takes nearly 9 hours to complete.
"State Police, New York State Forest Rangers, and the Essex County Coroner responded to the scene," authorities added.
'The DEC family offers our deepest condolences to the DuFour family for their loss,' the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation tells PEOPLE. They went on to extend their thanks 'to our dedicated Forest Rangers for their tireless efforts during the continuous and active search effort over the last few months.'
On Nov. 30, 2024, DuFour was reported missing, which launched an investigation, state police said. DuFour weighed approximately 150 lbs. and was 5' 7' tall. He was last seen wearing a black coat, pants, a black backpack and a tan winter hat.
It's unclear what caused his death and disappearance at this time.
State police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
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Multiple agencies scoured the 4,340-foot peak for the missing man and eventually came across his snow-covered vehicle at the Mt. Adams Trail in December, which was nearby, ABC affiliate WTEN reported.
The discovery launched a days-long search over almost 400 miles of difficult ground in bad weather conditions.
Eight days after he was reported missing, the search for DuFour was changed to a recovery operation, according to WTEN. Freezing temperatures and whiteouts forced officials to stop looking for DuFour in December.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said that search efforts restarted 'this spring as snow receded across the Adirondack backcountry.'
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