Dave Cawley

Glissading is a sort of controlled slide, like skiing without skis. But Art could see the talus in this area was too big to glissade on. What's more, Art knew there were bands of vertical cliffs between where he stood on the trail and the basin floor far below. It's uncomfortable to go down at that point. Uncomfortable being Art's way of saying unsafe.

Glissading is a sort of controlled slide, like skiing without skis. But Art could see the talus in this area was too big to glissade on. What's more, Art knew there were bands of vertical cliffs between where he stood on the trail and the basin floor far below. It's uncomfortable to go down at that point. Uncomfortable being Art's way of saying unsafe.

Down-climbing cliffs without any ropes or anchors while wearing a heavy pack is dangerous.

Down-climbing cliffs without any ropes or anchors while wearing a heavy pack is dangerous.

But Art figured there had to be a better option. He looked up the slope, to the top of the snowdrift. It seemed he could scramble up that way easier than going down. So that's what he did.

But Art figured there had to be a better option. He looked up the slope, to the top of the snowdrift. It seemed he could scramble up that way easier than going down. So that's what he did.

Crossing this moat would be like walking a balance beam covered with ice. A fall to the left would send you sliding out of control down the snowdrift. A fall to the right would drop you into that chasm between the top edge of the drift and the rock wall, a hole you'd be unable to escape without the help of rescuers with ropes.

Crossing this moat would be like walking a balance beam covered with ice. A fall to the left would send you sliding out of control down the snowdrift. A fall to the right would drop you into that chasm between the top edge of the drift and the rock wall, a hole you'd be unable to escape without the help of rescuers with ropes.

They made their way back down to the trail on the far side of the first drift. They walked a short distance, then ran into the second one. This snowfield was wider than the first, but a bit less steep. They again considered their options.

They made their way back down to the trail on the far side of the first drift. They walked a short distance, then ran into the second one. This snowfield was wider than the first, but a bit less steep. They again considered their options.

So they traversed straight across the face of the second drift. To do this, they had to kick toeholds into the smooth, crusty surface of the snow, testing each step as they went, compacting the snow under their body weight and hoping it would hold firm. It did. They made it across without problem and completed their descent from Anderson Pass.

So they traversed straight across the face of the second drift. To do this, they had to kick toeholds into the smooth, crusty surface of the snow, testing each step as they went, compacting the snow under their body weight and hoping it would hold firm. It did. They made it across without problem and completed their descent from Anderson Pass.

Once at the bottom, Art thought again about the missing hiker, Eric Robinson, he'd learned about just a couple hours earlier. He was a week ahead of us. Which meant the snowdrifts would have been even wider when Eric encountered them, if he'd made it that far. Art and Dan made camp at a spot with a clear view looking back at Anderson Pass. From a distance, the snow looked insignificant.

Once at the bottom, Art thought again about the missing hiker, Eric Robinson, he'd learned about just a couple hours earlier. He was a week ahead of us. Which meant the snowdrifts would have been even wider when Eric encountered them, if he'd made it that far. Art and Dan made camp at a spot with a clear view looking back at Anderson Pass. From a distance, the snow looked insignificant.

But Art couldn't help but wonder what that missing Australian backpacker might have done. Did Eric have the knowledge and experience to find a way around?

But Art couldn't help but wonder what that missing Australian backpacker might have done. Did Eric have the knowledge and experience to find a way around?

Would Eric have backtracked, gone off trail? Or did he try to cross the snow, slip and slide out of control, landing somewhere in the jumble of rocks below? A boulder pile like that is full of nooks and crevices that could hide a body from view. Which meant Art might be looking in Eric's direction without realizing it.

Would Eric have backtracked, gone off trail? Or did he try to cross the snow, slip and slide out of control, landing somewhere in the jumble of rocks below? A boulder pile like that is full of nooks and crevices that could hide a body from view. Which meant Art might be looking in Eric's direction without realizing it.

It's July 28th, 2023, exactly 12 years to the day since Eric Robinson started his hike on the Uinta Highline Trail. I'm sitting in an SUV with audio producer Nina Ernest as we bounce our way up the long dirt road to the trailhead at Chapita Lake, the very place Eric started his hike.

It's July 28th, 2023, exactly 12 years to the day since Eric Robinson started his hike on the Uinta Highline Trail. I'm sitting in an SUV with audio producer Nina Ernest as we bounce our way up the long dirt road to the trailhead at Chapita Lake, the very place Eric started his hike.