Hikers find Fossett’s clothing

HIKERS in northern California have found clothing and personal items belonging to millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, who went missing a year ago, police said yesterday.

“Three different forms of [Fossett’s] ID were found,” Mammoth Lakes Police spokeswoman Renee Placensia said.

She said no other details were immediately available but authorities were forming air and ground search crews.

Mammoth Lakes police chief Randy Schienle said a sweatshirt and other identification had been found by hikers.

Fossett, 63, vanished in his aeroplane after taking off in the Nevada desert in September 2007. Despite weeks of extensive land and air searches, no wreckage was found. He was declared legally dead in February 2008.

Mammoth Lakes is near the border with Nevada and Schienle said that snow and animals may have dispersed or covered the belongings until now.

Fossett held several aviation and sailing records, becoming the first person to fly a balloon solo around the world in 2002.

He disappeared after setting off from western Nevada on September 3 in a single-engine plane for what friends said was a casual pleasure flight.