Walther H. Reinhard, a 66-year-old retired U.S. Marine and experienced hiker from Oro Valley, Arizona, was last seen in Yosemite National Park on September 19, 2002. An avid outdoorsman, Reinhard was on a solo hiking trip and is believed to have started a day hike from the White Wolf trailhead. A park employee may have been the last person to see him on the morning of September 19th, when a man fitting his description and wearing a gray alpine hat asked for directions to a lake a few miles up
the trail. His credit card was last used on that same day to purchase gas about 15 miles from where his car was later found.
Reinhard's family reported him missing on September 29, 2002, after he failed to return home as expected. On September 30, park rangers located his vehicle at the White Wolf trailhead, prompting an extensive search of the surrounding area. The search and rescue operation involved helicopters, dog teams, and ground crews, who scoured a 40-square-mile area. These efforts were complicated by the onset of severe weather, including rain, hail, and snow, which likely erased any tracks and made survival more difficult. Despite the comprehensive search, no trace of Reinhard or his belongings was ever found.
At the time of his disappearance, Reinhard was described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with blue eyes and graying brown hair. He was believed to be wearing a gray felt alpine hat, leather hiking boots, and carrying a large fanny pack. Notably, his Swiss army knife was found left in his car. Park officials stated they did not suspect foul play in his disappearance. Reinhard was in excellent physical condition with no known medical issues. His case remains one of the unsolved missing person mysteries in Yosemite National Park.Last Seen: Sep 19, 2002
