Local police are still searching after a professor at the University of Wyoming bikes off into the mountains and mysteriously disappears. And survival experts wonder why experienced outdoorsmen disappeared into the wilderness.
Authorities are still searching for the 39-year-old Nashquin after disappearing while mountain bikes in Albany County, Wyoming.
Quinn, a visiting professor of gems and metals at the University of Wyoming, was last heard since July 8, 2024 and is believed to have been on a bike by July 21.
Police say his last known location remains unknown, but Quinn usually frequented three popular areas while riding – Happy Jack, Roger’s Canyon and Sheep Mountain.
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Nash Quinn, visiting professor of gems and metals at the University of Wyoming, was last heard since July 8th, 2024. (Laramie Police Station)
The Laramie Police Department declined a request for comment on Fox News Digital, citing an ongoing investigation.
Despite efforts to find Quinn, he has not yet been discovered in almost a year.
The mystery surrounding Quinn’s disappearance raises questions about the seemingly healthy and experienced biker becoming victims of the Wyoming wilderness.
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Nashquin disappeared after riding a bike to the Wyoming Mountains in July 2024. (Laramie Police Station)
“It’s a very brutal environment,” Jason Marsteiner, founder of Colorado’s Survival University, told Fox News Digital. “No matter where you are, you have to give some respect to those around you. So, in a nutshell, the core survival skills you need to learn are communication, fire, shelter, water and food.”
Avid outdoorsman, Quinn often leaves on his bike without bringing in a lot of gear and takes pride in being a minimalist while enjoying the elements. According to Cowboy State Daily.
After Quinn went missing, his cell phone, wallet and car keys were reportedly found inside his apartment. Quinn will also set out for a short ride without bringing water, his friend told a local outlet.
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Quinn disappeared in one of Wyoming’s peak summer months. The sun can reach high temperatures, but as the sun sets, you get soaked in cool weather. A wide range could have posed a serious risk to Quinn, which could cause hypothermia if he is not properly protected from elements overnight.
“Quinn is a minimalist,” Marsteiner said. “He just takes out the bike. That’s common. A lot of people do it. They don’t think about it. But even in July, the temperature at night is [around] 45 degrees, and it is potentially rainy season.
Authorities say Nash Quinn’s white bike is also missing almost a year after it disappeared while riding a bike in Wyoming. (Laramie Police Station)
“If you stick there and don’t have anything, hypothermia is very realistic. And your body closes pretty quickly with hypothermia.”
After Quinn’s loss, police said his white mountain bike had also not been found. This is an important detail that authorities might have found him if they had more vibrant colors.
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“He has a white bike [with] Black tires,” Marsteiner told Fox News Digital.
For weeks, authorities searched nearly 70,000 acres of Quinn on foot, bicycle and horseback, using drones and helicopters. However, even if there is an aerial search, Marsteiner warns that it may be difficult to find someone still.
“When they fly up and look down, they get really good at the movement,” Marsteiner said. “If he’s just lying there, his bike is lying here and it’s wedge under rocks and bushes, they’re not going to see him.”
Quinn’s search was taken over by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, but investigators have reportedly reduced search efforts and followed up with the lead ever since.
“The incident will remain open until we have other new information and other reasons to close it,” Sheriff Aaron Appelhans told Cowboy State University every day. “There is no information to identify the search area.”
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Almost a year after Quinn’s loss of failure, the Laramie Police Station is asking people visiting the mountains to continue looking for Quinn, and experts beg those in the wilderness to take steps to protect themselves.
“This is all from the heart,” Marsteiner said. “I really hope this is a learning experience. Unfortunately, I feel like Nash is dead and his family. If we can save another life by telling us what happened with Nash here, it’s all worth it.”
