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A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

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Re: A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

#111

Post by momothereal »

Copenjin wrote: post #105
momothereal wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wrote a quick script through Github's API, and found 10 users[1] matching the criteria: * starred any screeps repo before May 2017, and no other screeps repo since then * no public contributions or events since April 2017 If someone has some time to do further filtering, ensure the users have not starred any GitHub repo since May 2017 I didn't go through forks but that would also be an avenue. [1] https://gist.gith…

This guy with his Screeps-Main repo is interesting, he also removed a txt file with some description of what he wanted to do: https://github.com/NihilRex/Screeps-Main/commit/e2c34e211226... The last things he did were in 2017. Edit: Nope, same user is on the forum, https://screeps.com/forum/user/nihilrex

As someone else pointed out, it seems this user was recently active on Screeps forums, so ruled out.

Re: A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

#113

Post by mynegation »

momothereal wrote: post #80
ColanR wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If someone wants to check, I'd bet he at least forked or starred the github repo. A script to pull the list of those people, minus anyone whos been active since april 2017, would probably show his account.

I wrote a quick script through Github's API, and found 10 users[1] matching the criteria: * starred any screeps repo before May 2017, and no other screeps repo since then * no public contributions or events since April 2017 If someone has some time to do further filtering, ensure the users have not starred any GitHub repo since May 2017 I didn't go through forks but that would also be an avenue. [1] https://gist.gith…

You can exclude bandsaw1961 based on user pic and yacobjardon who was a student at Carleton University and a picture on his LinkedIn and career beyond 2017.

Re: A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

#114

Post by [deleted] »

alecbcs wrote: post #96
ColanR wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If someone wants to check, I'd bet he at least forked or starred the github repo. A script to pull the list of those people, minus anyone whos been active since april 2017, would probably show his account.

Checking for users who forked the repo in 2017 and haven't been active since 2017 I got. - amidman - eqzus - Mike Hancoski (follows users from NY, wrote PHP code, his personal website domain wasn't renewed and is now available.)

[deleted]

Re: A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

#115

Post by TwoBit »

nxthompson2 wrote: post #3

I'm the author of the piece. I think the best clues are that the mystery hiker told people he was from Louisiana, and that he worked in the tech industry in NY. I suspect someone here might recognize him. I'm reachable at nxthompson at protonmail.

It seems hard to believe that he worked in the tech industry but wouldn't be recognized. Perhaps articles like this will be seen by ex associates.

Re: A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

#116

Post by almog »

I love how sometimes worlds collide and thruhiking related stories make it to HN. It is however sad for it to be in this context.

If anyone reading this consider getting into long distance hiking, I'd encourage you to do so. While it is always best to avoid getting into dangerous situations rather than finding your way out of there, getting yourself either:

1. A subscription based satellite messenger (Garmin Mini is only 100g/3.5oz and is backed by Iridium. Globalstar is the other big network).

2. Personal Locator Beacon (COSPAS-SARSAT backed device) that has no subscription fee and is backed by better availability guarantees (Resqlink is only 4.6 oz) but has no messaging capabilities other than an "SOS signal".

If the above story didn't do enough to convince you that such device could have been helpful, please do yourself or your loved ones a favor and read what had became of Otter when he got trapped on the Continental Divide Trail — "Snowbound", Outside Online:

https://www.outsideonline.com/2336896/snowbound

Re: A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

#117

Post by TwoBit »

tdons wrote: post #69

The police poster mentioned "was only able to hike 10 miles a day". Makes me think it's health related, 10 mi / day is absolutely abysmal for a normal thru hiker. Most aim to do that amount by 10 in the morning...

Not able, or not interested?

Re: A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

#118

Post by bigtones »

jennyyang wrote: post #63

Here is a link to his notebook that they found on him: https://www.colliersheriff.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=94010

From reading the notebook he may be a game developer. Quite a few of the pages look like notes from algorithms on rendering a game, maybe an FPS or RTS game, and he talks about outputting to the console and sprites.

Re: A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

#119

Post by sieabahlpark »

0x1F8B wrote: post #67

> IN APRIL 2017, a man started hiking in a state park just north of New York City. He wanted to get away, maybe from something and maybe from everything. > Everyone who goes into the woods is trying to get away from something. > Everyone, at some point, has wanted to put their phone in a garbage can and head off with a fake name and a wad of cash. Since you are here I want to mention how off-putting this rhetoric is…

> It's almost as if urbanity is now synonymous with a neurotic steady state of over-exposure and any act of finding a moment of peace in the outdoors is itself a futile act of desperation -- an attempt to flee modernity. It just doesn't ring true to me.

It's just the media saying if you don't consume the media something is wrong with 'you'. No different than the CCP or any propaganda outlet at that point.

Re: A nameless hiker and the case the internet can’t crack

#120

Post by alecbcs »

mynegation wrote: post #110
alecbcs wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Checking for users who forked the repo in 2017 and haven't been active since 2017 I got. - amidman - eqzus - Mike Hancoski (follows users from NY, wrote PHP code, his personal website domain wasn't renewed and is now available.)

Mike Hancoski as of 2018 was living in Denver, posted to Instagram and looks different than photos. I think you also missed Maxim2030 who is also in the list by momothereal. And also manhyper

Ahh thank you I had missed Maxim2030. Looks like manhyper updated his fork of screeps on February 11th?

Also saw Mike Hancoski's Instagram but it's odd he hasn't posted anything to his LinkedIn since 2014? Maybe worth awkwardly reaching out just in case?

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