Hiker Finds Steve Fossett ID

(CBS/AP)  A hiker in rugged eastern California found an ID and other items possibly belonging to Steve Fossett, the adventurer missing more than a year since going on a pleasure flight in a borrowed plane, authorities said Wednesday.

The items were found in the area of the town of Mammoth Lakes, Inyo National Forest spokeswoman Nancy Upham said.

"We have some ID that has the name Steve Fossett," Mammoth Lakes police Investigator Crystal Schafer said. "They were turned in to us and are in our possession."

A hiker who found the ID and some cash came to the police department office Tuesday, Police Chief Randy Schienle told CNN.

"The ID is well weathered," Schienle said. "We have heavy winters up here."

A sweatshirt was also found in the area, but no wreckage was located, he said.

Fossett disappeared Sept. 3, 2007, after taking off in a single-engine plane borrowed from a Nevada ranch owned by hotel magnate Barron Hilton. A judge declared Fossett legally dead in February.

This year's biggest search for Fossett focused on Nevada's Wassuk Range, more than 50 miles north of Mammoth Lakes. That search ended last month.

Mammoth Lakes is a community at an elevation of more than 7,800 feet on the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada, where peaks top 13,000 feet.

Fossett made a fortune trading futures and options on Chicago markets. He gained worldwide fame for more than 100 attempts and successes in setting records in high-tech balloons, gliders, jets and boats. In 2002, he became the first person to circle the world solo in a balloon. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in July 2007.

He also swam the English Channel, completed an Ironman Triathlon, competed in the Iditarod dog sled race and climbed some of the world's best-known peaks, including the Matterhorn in Switzerland and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

[lochlan-2009]

Didn''t they do a flyover and post it on the net for people to search and try to find his plane? I think you can use those images to limit the area your searching now.

[pepperwood2]

Come on now Fess up? WE all know that this is the inhabitat of the endangered BigFoot species.

I''m sure those animal hairs found will match up to that fact. Steve did his homework and was probably aware of this. He decided to bail out in that area to see if he could contact BigFoot and to do a story to enhance his world renowed accomplishments. All this to be done incognito of course.

All this BS about Amelia Earhart going down in the Pacific. Wouldn''t surprise me if she got lost over these same Mountains. When they find Steve; They''ll also find Bigfoot & Amelia''s Plane.

[ludvig1-2009]

You are correct Generey with your "person of interest" comment. I once noticed similarities in crimes miles apart from reading about them on the internet with someone apprehended in one of the crimes and when I contacted the police to tell them about the similar crimes I read about, I got questioned like I had something to do with it. From now on I''ve joined the "Don''t snitch" generation.

[republic1776]

Steve''s having a drink with Elvis, and Osama Bin Laden.

[generey]

This "hiker" just messed up big time; he will now be considered a "person of interest" in the matter. When will people learn??? LOL.

[pollroller1]

I saw this this guy on the TV that claimed he found the internet and right behind him was this small single engine airplane.

[calgal4]

In response to the Vicar1...
The planet doesn''t need saving...humans need saving. The planet will still be here after we''re gone.

[spadeisspade]

There is NO WAY Steve Fossett is dead. He was getting too old to keep up with the pressures of all his other death defying acts that he decided to hole up somewhere rather than risk the public eye seeing him get old and decrepit.

[albrightw]

It aint over till it''s over. The body will eventually show up in the future. Don''t worry about it.

[iphyt4u]

I walked up that same mountain, and I was greeted by two guys, one looked like Jimmy Hoffa, and the other like Jim Morrison. Spooky...