"Actually his disappearance occurred in a front country setting. he walked out to "check the nature trail",probably walked down the entrance road a bit and encountered a drug deal in progress. At least that is my preferred hypothesis...

The search effort was complicated by the distinct possibility that he might have left intentionally, something that is often a possibility in many such situations."

I sympathize. I know that area. Very rugged. Many, many locations for a person to become lost, or a body to be hidden. Unusual incident, though. Bizarre. almost sounds like he did just leave the area completely.

Pete