The man found dead earlier this month at Snowslide Campground in the La Plata Mountains has been identified as 60-year-old James Hartman Gaston.

Gaston likely died in his sleep after suffering heart problems related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, said La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith. Gaston was originally from Marathon, Texas, and had been traveling around the country car camping, Smith said.

Smith was told by Gaston’s brother that he began traveling recently, likely because of the health issues he was experiencing.

Gaston’s LinkedIn page says he was a director for Service Employees International Union.

He was found dead the morning of July 11 by a Snowslide Campground staff member and was not able to be identified right away because he was not carrying identification on him.

A campground staff member checked on Gaston after not seeing or hearing from him.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office investigators were able to get in contact with the man’s brother based on information from his license plate, and Gaston’s brother was able to confirm the man’s identity.

tbrown@durangoherald.com