Hikers in a remote area of California have found clothing and identification cards belonging to millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, presumed dead after his plane went missing a year ago.
Authorities rushed to set up a command post to search for wreckage of his plane in the area where the items were found - between Yosemite National Park and the Nevada border.
"I am hopeful that this search will locate the crash site and my husband's remains," Peggy Fossett, the missing adventurer's widow, said.
Local officials provided few details of the personal items recovered by the hikers.
"There was various paper identification found and some clothing," said Shannon Kendall, a spokeswoman for the Mono County Sheriff's Department.
"We have a ground team heading out to search the area."
The area is said to be rugged alpine terrain, only accessible by hiking or helicopter.
Mr Fossett, 63, vanished in his airplane after taking off from a private airstrip in Nevada in September 2007.
Despite weeks of extensive searches, no wreckage was found, and he was declared legally dead in February this year.
