Thanks to Bram Stoker‘s “Dracula,” there’s a lingering legacy around Transylvania and how it fits into the vampire mythos. While it may be unfair to the people who live there, there’s no denying the eeriness to the area. This otherworldliness casts an even more unsettling aura over the disappearance of a young hiker who has been missing in the area for days.
George Smyth, 18, is a student at the University of Bristol. On November 23rd, he went on a hike through the Bucegi mountain range in Romania. Previous reports indicated he was planning to see Dracula’s Bran Castle, but those reports have been disputed by Romanian officials. The last contact with Smyth was when he managed to make an emergency call, and was directed to continue moving along the trail towards the area of Malaiesti Chalet.
A camp, seemingly belonging to Smyth, was discovered. It was well-stocked with food and various provisions, but no sign of Smyth.
The search has had to be temporarily called off twice due to snowfall and avalanche concerns. The Tiganesti Valley where Smyth is presumed missing has faced weather that has made things “extremely difficult.” Even after the weather subsides, the newly fallen snow can obscure tracks and potential items left behind by someone.
The search is still continuing. These incidents often come down to a race against time. They also serve as the worst kind of reminder to be extremely cautious when planning a hike, and to prepare for worst case scenarios. Vampires may be a fictional concern in Transylvania, but winter conditions are a very real one.
