Dave Cawley

Early in the search for Eric, as the local news media started spreading the word, a man named Carmi came forward to report seeing Eric at Fox Lake on the morning of July 30th. That was day three of Eric's walk. Carmi had snapped a photo of Eric. It showed him next to his tent, squinting into the rising sun, holding a mug of tea. It is the last known photo of Eric.

Early in the search for Eric, as the local news media started spreading the word, a man named Carmi came forward to report seeing Eric at Fox Lake on the morning of July 30th. That was day three of Eric's walk. Carmi had snapped a photo of Eric. It showed him next to his tent, squinting into the rising sun, holding a mug of tea. It is the last known photo of Eric.

And I now know exactly where it was taken. This tells me something significant. Eric didn't go far off the trail to make camp. He didn't wander in search of the best vista or the most solitude. It also tells me Eric wasn't moving very fast. It took him a day and a half to travel the same distance I did in a matter of hours. So I've skipped one night and I'm already ahead of Eric's schedule.

And I now know exactly where it was taken. This tells me something significant. Eric didn't go far off the trail to make camp. He didn't wander in search of the best vista or the most solitude. It also tells me Eric wasn't moving very fast. It took him a day and a half to travel the same distance I did in a matter of hours. So I've skipped one night and I'm already ahead of Eric's schedule.

I'm paying a price for that, though. I've got a headache, and I feel a bit nauseous, which could be from dehydration or a symptom of something worse, altitude sickness. That would be a trip-ending problem, so it's imperative I take care of my body in this moment. I hope you'll forgive me. I'm going to make my dinner as I talk here because the sun has gone down, the temperature is...

I'm paying a price for that, though. I've got a headache, and I feel a bit nauseous, which could be from dehydration or a symptom of something worse, altitude sickness. That would be a trip-ending problem, so it's imperative I take care of my body in this moment. I hope you'll forgive me. I'm going to make my dinner as I talk here because the sun has gone down, the temperature is...

dropping and I want to get some food in me and then tuck into bed. I need food, water, electrolytes, and rest. Tonight we are having instant rice, dehydrated refried beans, dehydrated chicken, a little hot sauce, and some cups of water in there, and some crunchy jalapeno slices. The last traces of lavender and gold fade from the clouds as twilight deepens.

dropping and I want to get some food in me and then tuck into bed. I need food, water, electrolytes, and rest. Tonight we are having instant rice, dehydrated refried beans, dehydrated chicken, a little hot sauce, and some cups of water in there, and some crunchy jalapeno slices. The last traces of lavender and gold fade from the clouds as twilight deepens.

I click on my headlamp and notice the fog of my breath in its beam. It gets cold fast after sundown up here, even in summer. Steam rises from my dinner as well. It's hard to be patient with this rehydration process. I want to just grab it and eat it. But there's nothing worse than dry marshmallow dehydrated chicken chunks, and crunchy instant rice. So we wait.

I click on my headlamp and notice the fog of my breath in its beam. It gets cold fast after sundown up here, even in summer. Steam rises from my dinner as well. It's hard to be patient with this rehydration process. I want to just grab it and eat it. But there's nothing worse than dry marshmallow dehydrated chicken chunks, and crunchy instant rice. So we wait.

My thoughts turn to Marilyn as I wait. I sought her blessing before beginning this journey.

My thoughts turn to Marilyn as I wait. I sought her blessing before beginning this journey.

I'd told Marilyn I hoped to gain insight about Eric's experience, which I could then share with her. Sitting here now, right where Eric did 12 years before, I wonder if he also watched stars emerge while making his dinner. Did he hear a moose foraging in the forest behind, like I do? Or was his mind occupied, thinking of the challenging path ahead?

I'd told Marilyn I hoped to gain insight about Eric's experience, which I could then share with her. Sitting here now, right where Eric did 12 years before, I wonder if he also watched stars emerge while making his dinner. Did he hear a moose foraging in the forest behind, like I do? Or was his mind occupied, thinking of the challenging path ahead?

Did he harbor any doubt in his ability to make it to the end? Back in 2011, on day two of the search for Eric, Marilyn felt the extreme distance tearing at her. She checked her email over and over, hoping for some word from Utah. Her mind kept going back to Julia's invitation. The idea of dropping everything to fly across the world started to seem less crazy.

Did he harbor any doubt in his ability to make it to the end? Back in 2011, on day two of the search for Eric, Marilyn felt the extreme distance tearing at her. She checked her email over and over, hoping for some word from Utah. Her mind kept going back to Julia's invitation. The idea of dropping everything to fly across the world started to seem less crazy.

But Marilyn's second-in-command at Volkstone Primary School was still out of the country, not due back for more than a week.

But Marilyn's second-in-command at Volkstone Primary School was still out of the country, not due back for more than a week.

It was already Wednesday in Melbourne. Surely her staff could manage a couple of days without her. Marilyn made up her mind. She would travel to Utah.

It was already Wednesday in Melbourne. Surely her staff could manage a couple of days without her. Marilyn made up her mind. She would travel to Utah.