Dave Cawley

Marilyn read the words, Eric did not show up.

Marilyn read the words, Eric did not show up.

On the phone, Julia told Marilyn how she had waited all day for Eric.

On the phone, Julia told Marilyn how she had waited all day for Eric.

Deja vu. It reminded Marilyn of the call she had received three years earlier when Eric was overdue in New Zealand. She had reported him missing then, only to have him show up a couple days later perfectly fine. He had chided her for overreacting. This would probably end the same way. Or would it? Marilyn felt uneasy.

Deja vu. It reminded Marilyn of the call she had received three years earlier when Eric was overdue in New Zealand. She had reported him missing then, only to have him show up a couple days later perfectly fine. He had chided her for overreacting. This would probably end the same way. Or would it? Marilyn felt uneasy.

She looked over at the flowers Eric had sent when he departed for the United States more than two weeks earlier. They were wilting.

She looked over at the flowers Eric had sent when he departed for the United States more than two weeks earlier. They were wilting.

A sense of foreboding?

A sense of foreboding?

My name is Dave Cauley. You are listening to Uintah Triangle, an audio documentary from KSL Podcasts. This is the third episode. It's called The Tyranny of Distance. Julia Geisler and her partner Blake Summers returned to the Highline Trailhead at first light on Monday morning, August 8th, day one of the search for Eric Robinson.

My name is Dave Cauley. You are listening to Uintah Triangle, an audio documentary from KSL Podcasts. This is the third episode. It's called The Tyranny of Distance. Julia Geisler and her partner Blake Summers returned to the Highline Trailhead at first light on Monday morning, August 8th, day one of the search for Eric Robinson.

But Eric wasn't there. Julia figured if Eric had come out during the night and hitched a ride into town, he would have left a note.

But Eric wasn't there. Julia figured if Eric had come out during the night and hitched a ride into town, he would have left a note.

Julia opened the register box, took out the notebook, and flipped through the pages. She didn't see anything from Eric. Blake was stuffing food and gear into his backpack. He had decided to hike out eastbound on the Uinta Highline Trail, the opposite direction Eric was traveling. He had a goal in mind. Try to start contacting people that were on the trail at the time.

Julia opened the register box, took out the notebook, and flipped through the pages. She didn't see anything from Eric. Blake was stuffing food and gear into his backpack. He had decided to hike out eastbound on the Uinta Highline Trail, the opposite direction Eric was traveling. He had a goal in mind. Try to start contacting people that were on the trail at the time.

With any luck, he would find Eric or someone who had seen him. Blake told Julia he'd hike as far as Naturalist Basin, a popular spot about a half day's walk from the trailhead. The basin's near Rocky Sea Pass, the last major hurdle on Eric's walk. It's where Eric might be if simply running behind schedule. So that would have been like his last camp.

With any luck, he would find Eric or someone who had seen him. Blake told Julia he'd hike as far as Naturalist Basin, a popular spot about a half day's walk from the trailhead. The basin's near Rocky Sea Pass, the last major hurdle on Eric's walk. It's where Eric might be if simply running behind schedule. So that would have been like his last camp.

Blake set off down the trail as Julia scrounged for supplies to make a sign. She found a scrap of cardboard and wrote the words Hiker Missing on it, along with Eric's name and a phone number to call. She taped the sign to the trailhead kiosk with neon pink duct tape. Then she headed home. On the drive, she realized she couldn't say whether Eric had even made it to the start of the trail.

Blake set off down the trail as Julia scrounged for supplies to make a sign. She found a scrap of cardboard and wrote the words Hiker Missing on it, along with Eric's name and a phone number to call. She taped the sign to the trailhead kiosk with neon pink duct tape. Then she headed home. On the drive, she realized she couldn't say whether Eric had even made it to the start of the trail.