Wayne Cook 4/12/93 Ptarmigan Peak Hiker Exposure

Man's Body Found Near Flattop
By Hugh Curran, ADN 04/26/93

The body of a 26-year-old man missing for more than two weeks was found near Flattop Mountain on Saturday afternoon, Alaska State Troopers said.  The body was identified as that of Wayne Cook of Anchorage.

Troopers said two hikers were returning from nearby Ptarmigan Peak when they found the body at 3 p.m. Saturday.  The two were able to reach a phone by 5:30 p.m. and told troopers they had discovered the body of a Native male adult near the base of the peak.

A criminal investigation team traveled to the site and recovered the body that evening.

Troopers did not release the nature of their investigation, but Cook's father, Leland Cook, said troopers told him his son may have fallen to his death.  Troopers said an autopsy was scheduled for today.

Leland Cook said he last saw his son on April 8.

"I got home from work around 4 p.m. and he left between then and 5 p.m.," Leland Cook said. "He didn't say where he was going and didn't bring anything with him."

Cook's mother, Dorothy Cook, said she reported her son missing two days later.

"We didn't know what might have happened - I was hoping somebody was going to tell us where he was and that he was all right."

Cook said her son was unemployed and lived with his father and brother.


Police Report Hypothermia Cited In Man's Death
ADN 04/30/93

An Anchorage man whose body was found near Flattop Mountain on Saturday probably died of hypothermia, according to autopsy results released by the Alaska State Troopers on Thursday.  The body of 26-year-old Wayne Cook was found by hikers near the base of Ptarmigan Peak on Saturday afternoon. He had been missing more than two weeks.