Zachary Weston, a 22-year-old MIT student studying aerospace engineering and film, vanished while hiking alone in Mount Rainier National Park in August 2005. He had spent about seven weeks in the park that summer, sometimes accompanied by his father or friends, and was expected to meet a friend on August 11 but never arrived. His car was found at the Comet Falls trailhead and the last verifiable sighting was August 10.

Zachary was described as a skilled outdoorsman and well prepared for hiking, though he likely lacked proper glacier travel gear. Searchers located his camp at Snow Lake Campsite and helicopters searched steep terrain up to 10,000 feet, but no trace was found. Years later his father discovered a cache of Zachary’s food and equipment, including his sleeping bag and backpack, in a small alcove; that find did not solve the case. The official search was suspended and he was presumed to have perished on the mountain.

Does anyone who spent time on the Comet Falls–Camp Hazard routes in August 2005 recall seeing Zachary or anything out of the ordinary?