My story on the search for Matthew Greene

[narkj]

I spent 8 years trying to write this story and had to sort through a lot of emotional baggage to get to the point. Wanted to thank Peter "Maverick" Agoston, Dean Rosnau, Dave Ayers and all the other searchers I met out there. The beauty of the Sierra has stayed with me. Click on link below

http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web23w/wfea ... AQm-5H1bY

[wildhiker]

What a beautiful story! Thank you for your honesty and sensitivity.
-Phil

[oldhikerQ]

Thanks so much for sharing this.

[rlown]

I'm unsure why this matters anymore. Remember QuentinC? Found a shoe and a bit of bone. I'm wondering why there is so much focus on a missing solo hiker. don't do that. I'm not jaded, but if you don't find the body in the first year, gone. Animals are incredible at cleaning up.
Solo is a choice and one has to be careful.

[sparky]

I'm unsure why this matters anymore. Remember QuentinC? Found a shoe and a bit of bone. I'm wondering why there is so much focus on a missing solo hiker. don't do that. I'm not jaded, but if you don't find the body in the first year, gone. Animals are incredible at cleaning up.
Solo is a choice and one has to be careful.

why it matters is in the second sentence of the article. I copy and paste it here.

"They looked for a small thing to place in a grave, a way for his family to say goodbye"

[rlown]

I've never understood the need for closure. I choose to remember a person as they lived. Mom was cremated; Home hospice was messy. Didn't ask for ashes. Friends and family all around me are dying. I don't focus on the end of life as it is generally messy.

[Harlen]

I've never understood the need for closure. I choose to remember a person as they lived. ... I don't focus on the end of life as it is generally messy.

Russ, I understand what you're saying, and with my Dad's difficult death, as you say, it's best for us to try to remember his whole life, along with the last years. However, don't you think it would feel different for friends and family--parents especially, when it's a young person who dies in the prime of life?

That's the tragic, and compelling story here with Matthew Greene. Were he a child of mine, I too would want to find out how and where he died. As long as I hear that it's important to the family, I will be keen to help search for Matt's bones.

Perhaps they'll be found in one of these beautiful places:

[rlown]

Not really. Celebrate the life choice to be out there. Just know he is in a better place by his own choice.

[zacjust32]

I've never understood the need for closure. I choose to remember a person as they lived. Mom was cremated; Home hospice was messy. Didn't ask for ashes. Friends and family all around me are dying. I don't focus on the end of life as it is generally messy.

Your opinions are not reflected by all. Many cultures around the world process death differently. It's important to be respectful towards others' grieving process, lest you come off as an

[rlown]

closure concept doesn't bring them back. Just remember the good times.