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Lost Son's Legacy: A Father's 20-Year Wilderness Search
16 Jul
Summary
- A father searches for his lost son, founding a foundation.
- The foundation aids families and educates on wilderness safety.
- Over 20 years, the foundation has supported 45 searches.
Twenty years ago, Jon Francis disappeared while hiking in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains, a tragedy that spurred his father, David Francis, into action. Following a lengthy and difficult search for his son, David founded the Jon Francis Foundation in early 2007. This organization is dedicated to supporting families who have lost loved ones in the wilderness.
The foundation has since participated in 45 searches, finding the remains of 10 individuals. They also provide crucial wilderness safety education to climbers and hikers and offer financial and technical assistance to search-and-rescue teams. While David Francis has stepped back from active on-the-ground searches, the foundation continues its mission to honor Jon's legacy and support grieving families.
