Dave Cawley

This wasn't Lynn's first experience in the woods, but the Uintas felt more wild than almost any place he had ever been.

This wasn't Lynn's first experience in the woods, but the Uintas felt more wild than almost any place he had ever been.

About two weeks after Lynn wrote those words, he and three co-workers went to the top of a mountain called Lamotte Peak. I've been there myself. It's a barren pile of rocks that towers more than 2,000 feet or 600 meters over the surrounding river valleys. And it's where one corner of this cruise survey project sat. A storm came up while they were on Lamotte Peak that afternoon.

About two weeks after Lynn wrote those words, he and three co-workers went to the top of a mountain called Lamotte Peak. I've been there myself. It's a barren pile of rocks that towers more than 2,000 feet or 600 meters over the surrounding river valleys. And it's where one corner of this cruise survey project sat. A storm came up while they were on Lamotte Peak that afternoon.

The party hurried down from the summit along a narrow ridge, but Lynn lagged behind. At one point, the others looked back and saw him about a mile away. They waved. He waved back. The surveyors who were in front then descended out of the alpine tundra into thick pine forest. They thought Lynn would follow, but he never made it to camp that night. A search started the next morning.

The party hurried down from the summit along a narrow ridge, but Lynn lagged behind. At one point, the others looked back and saw him about a mile away. They waved. He waved back. The surveyors who were in front then descended out of the alpine tundra into thick pine forest. They thought Lynn would follow, but he never made it to camp that night. A search started the next morning.

It went on for more than a month. Hundreds of people helped comb the mountain until October snow forced them out. Lynn Simmons was never found. I discovered Lynn's story while scouring old newspaper archives. It rattled me because I'd previously stood right where Lynn was last seen without realizing it.

It went on for more than a month. Hundreds of people helped comb the mountain until October snow forced them out. Lynn Simmons was never found. I discovered Lynn's story while scouring old newspaper archives. It rattled me because I'd previously stood right where Lynn was last seen without realizing it.

I filed public records requests, hoping to learn more, but was told all of the original reports were lost. I connected with some of Lynn's relatives, who knew only fragments of the story passed down as a campfire tale. We worked together to get Lynn added to NamUs, the central database for missing persons in the US.

I filed public records requests, hoping to learn more, but was told all of the original reports were lost. I connected with some of Lynn's relatives, who knew only fragments of the story passed down as a campfire tale. We worked together to get Lynn added to NamUs, the central database for missing persons in the US.

I share all of this because Lynn's disappearance, like Garrett Bardsley's, shows just how easy it is for someone to fall victim to the Uinta Triangle. Most people who go missing in these mountains are quickly found, but those who aren't run the risk of never being found at all. Julia Geisler kept busy as day one of the search for Eric wound down.

I share all of this because Lynn's disappearance, like Garrett Bardsley's, shows just how easy it is for someone to fall victim to the Uinta Triangle. Most people who go missing in these mountains are quickly found, but those who aren't run the risk of never being found at all. Julia Geisler kept busy as day one of the search for Eric wound down.

She pulled out her photos from the John Muir Trail, found a few good shots of Eric, and used them to make a missing persons flyer on her computer. She sent the file to some friends and asked for their help. printing them off on home computers and putting them wherever we could. She gave a stack to Jonathan McCauley.

She pulled out her photos from the John Muir Trail, found a few good shots of Eric, and used them to make a missing persons flyer on her computer. She sent the file to some friends and asked for their help. printing them off on home computers and putting them wherever we could. She gave a stack to Jonathan McCauley.

Jonathan's the guy Eric and Julia met on the JMT, who had brought pizza in to celebrate Devin's birthday. Part of that trail family. Jonathan was going to drive out to the start of the Henry's Fork Trail, a popular path that intersects the Yuma to High Line at about the midway point. He'd start hiking in first thing the next morning.

Jonathan's the guy Eric and Julia met on the JMT, who had brought pizza in to celebrate Devin's birthday. Part of that trail family. Jonathan was going to drive out to the start of the Henry's Fork Trail, a popular path that intersects the Yuma to High Line at about the midway point. He'd start hiking in first thing the next morning.

And Julia's friend Devin from San Francisco was booking a flight to Utah, eager to help any way she could.

And Julia's friend Devin from San Francisco was booking a flight to Utah, eager to help any way she could.

That included keeping Eric's wife Marilyn informed. But that was a struggle. It was really difficult to communicate. Julia couldn't get her phone to connect to an Australian number. like it was a nightmare trying to dial for some reason. Instead, she turned to email. For Marilyn, the time difference meant it was already Tuesday morning.

That included keeping Eric's wife Marilyn informed. But that was a struggle. It was really difficult to communicate. Julia couldn't get her phone to connect to an Australian number. like it was a nightmare trying to dial for some reason. Instead, she turned to email. For Marilyn, the time difference meant it was already Tuesday morning.