Dave Cawley

The last time she had seen him, a week and a half earlier, he was getting on a bus. Anything could have happened after that.

The last time she had seen him, a week and a half earlier, he was getting on a bus. Anything could have happened after that.

Maybe the bus had crashed. Or maybe the guide Eric had hired to shuttle him from the bus to the start of the trail robbed him and dumped him somewhere. More likely, Eric might have had some kind of trouble on the trail. Snow conditions in the Uinta Mountains were extreme that summer. The prior winter had packed a record-setting amount of snow in the range.

Maybe the bus had crashed. Or maybe the guide Eric had hired to shuttle him from the bus to the start of the trail robbed him and dumped him somewhere. More likely, Eric might have had some kind of trouble on the trail. Snow conditions in the Uinta Mountains were extreme that summer. The prior winter had packed a record-setting amount of snow in the range.

Snow that had repeatedly thawed and refrozen.

Snow that had repeatedly thawed and refrozen.

Slick and dangerous. Julia had never hiked the Uinta Highline herself, so she wasn't sure if portions of the trail might still be buried. If they were... It's technical.

Slick and dangerous. Julia had never hiked the Uinta Highline herself, so she wasn't sure if portions of the trail might still be buried. If they were... It's technical.

Eric didn't like snow, and he hadn't prepared for it. Julia wondered what he'd do if he encountered it.

Eric didn't like snow, and he hadn't prepared for it. Julia wondered what he'd do if he encountered it.

There are at least 20 official trailheads scattered around the perimeter of the Uinta Mountains. Some are hours from the closest town, down rough, unpaved roads with no cell service. Maybe Eric had bailed and hiked to one of those other trailheads. The first thing sheriff's deputies did on day one of the search was drive out to each of those trailheads to check. But Julia wasn't yet aware of this.

There are at least 20 official trailheads scattered around the perimeter of the Uinta Mountains. Some are hours from the closest town, down rough, unpaved roads with no cell service. Maybe Eric had bailed and hiked to one of those other trailheads. The first thing sheriff's deputies did on day one of the search was drive out to each of those trailheads to check. But Julia wasn't yet aware of this.

When Julia made it home, she pulled out a copy of Eric's itinerary. It included the name and phone number of the guide he had hired to shuttle him to the start of the trail. Julia called that man, Jeff Stagg, who confirmed he had taken Eric to the Chapita Lake trailhead 11 days earlier.

When Julia made it home, she pulled out a copy of Eric's itinerary. It included the name and phone number of the guide he had hired to shuttle him to the start of the trail. Julia called that man, Jeff Stagg, who confirmed he had taken Eric to the Chapita Lake trailhead 11 days earlier.

Stagg promised to immediately go back to Chapita Lake and personally travel the first stretch of the trail looking for Eric. The distance involved meant he wouldn't be able to report back for at least a full day, possibly more. It was already after noon on day one of the search, and Julia wasn't sure what else to do.

Stagg promised to immediately go back to Chapita Lake and personally travel the first stretch of the trail looking for Eric. The distance involved meant he wouldn't be able to report back for at least a full day, possibly more. It was already after noon on day one of the search, and Julia wasn't sure what else to do.

At that very moment, the sheriff of Duchesne County was calling out his search and rescue team. They had orders to head into the Uintas on horseback, but it would also take them time to muster. Meanwhile, a helicopter belonging to the Utah Department of Public Safety lifted off on its way to fly over the Uinta Highline Trail in search of a missing man carrying a ruby red backpack.

At that very moment, the sheriff of Duchesne County was calling out his search and rescue team. They had orders to head into the Uintas on horseback, but it would also take them time to muster. Meanwhile, a helicopter belonging to the Utah Department of Public Safety lifted off on its way to fly over the Uinta Highline Trail in search of a missing man carrying a ruby red backpack.

A pair of hikers moved along the Uinta Highline Trail on the afternoon of Monday, August 8th, day one of the search for Eric Robinson. Art Lang and Dan McCool were their names. We were walking the highline just for the adventure and challenge of doing it. That's Art. He's a friend of mine, but I didn't know his personal connection to the Eric Robinson story when we first met, years ago.

A pair of hikers moved along the Uinta Highline Trail on the afternoon of Monday, August 8th, day one of the search for Eric Robinson. Art Lang and Dan McCool were their names. We were walking the highline just for the adventure and challenge of doing it. That's Art. He's a friend of mine, but I didn't know his personal connection to the Eric Robinson story when we first met, years ago.