Dave Cawley

She was at work, at her job as principal of Volkstone Primary School.

She was at work, at her job as principal of Volkstone Primary School.

Waiting for updates by email was agonizing. She felt powerless, unable to help from half a world away. In one email, Julia extended an invitation, telling Marilyn she was welcome to come and stay in Park City while they sorted all this out. The idea felt a bit crazy. Marilyn had responsibilities. Who would manage the school if she were to leave? My assistant principal was overseas at the time.

Waiting for updates by email was agonizing. She felt powerless, unable to help from half a world away. In one email, Julia extended an invitation, telling Marilyn she was welcome to come and stay in Park City while they sorted all this out. The idea felt a bit crazy. Marilyn had responsibilities. Who would manage the school if she were to leave? My assistant principal was overseas at the time.

Plus, Eric might pop up at any moment. She didn't want to be stuck in a plane somewhere over the Pacific when that happened. Marilyn had a thought. What about Eric's beacon? He'd bought that EPIRB, the satellite distress signal. She emailed Julia, asking her to ask the sheriff whether they could track the beacon.

Plus, Eric might pop up at any moment. She didn't want to be stuck in a plane somewhere over the Pacific when that happened. Marilyn had a thought. What about Eric's beacon? He'd bought that EPIRB, the satellite distress signal. She emailed Julia, asking her to ask the sheriff whether they could track the beacon.

Julia called the Dushane County Sheriff's Office first thing on the morning of Tuesday, August 9th, day two of the search for Eric. She demanded to talk to Sheriff Travis Mitchell.

Julia called the Dushane County Sheriff's Office first thing on the morning of Tuesday, August 9th, day two of the search for Eric. She demanded to talk to Sheriff Travis Mitchell.

Mitchell told Julia the beacon could only be tracked if Eric hit the panic button. That hadn't happened.

Mitchell told Julia the beacon could only be tracked if Eric hit the panic button. That hadn't happened.

Sheriff Mitchell said his deputies hadn't found Eric at any of the trailheads the day before. Now the first wave of searchers were just about ready to depart on horseback. And Mitchell was going to board a helicopter to fly over and personally inspect each of the passes of the Uinta Highline Trail from the air. They agreed to talk again later that afternoon.

Sheriff Mitchell said his deputies hadn't found Eric at any of the trailheads the day before. Now the first wave of searchers were just about ready to depart on horseback. And Mitchell was going to board a helicopter to fly over and personally inspect each of the passes of the Uinta Highline Trail from the air. They agreed to talk again later that afternoon.

After hanging up with the sheriff, Julia started calling the local news stations. You know, trying to get people to come forward. She hoped someone, anyone, who'd seen Eric would give her some indication where he might be. It's clear we need more resources and more help. Julia sent another email to Marilyn.

After hanging up with the sheriff, Julia started calling the local news stations. You know, trying to get people to come forward. She hoped someone, anyone, who'd seen Eric would give her some indication where he might be. It's clear we need more resources and more help. Julia sent another email to Marilyn.

I'm going to start calling friends to get more people out there, and then hopefully get out there myself, she wrote. I wish the news were better. Art Lang and his buddy Dan McCool were continuing their hike on the Uinta Highline Trail. They were behind schedule, at least according to Art's plan.

I'm going to start calling friends to get more people out there, and then hopefully get out there myself, she wrote. I wish the news were better. Art Lang and his buddy Dan McCool were continuing their hike on the Uinta Highline Trail. They were behind schedule, at least according to Art's plan.

They were on a portion of the trail through a place called Painter Basin, headed for the highest point on the highline, Anderson Pass. Anderson would have been the second major hurdle of Eric's hike. And it's a place he might have run into other hikers because the pass is also a waypoint on the route to the highest mountain in Utah, King's Peak.

They were on a portion of the trail through a place called Painter Basin, headed for the highest point on the highline, Anderson Pass. Anderson would have been the second major hurdle of Eric's hike. And it's a place he might have run into other hikers because the pass is also a waypoint on the route to the highest mountain in Utah, King's Peak.

King's Peak sits on one of the ribs I described earlier. Anderson Pass crosses that same rib just to the north of the peak, in a notch between the peak and the spine of the Uinta Crest. Art and Dan were on their way to Anderson Pass when they heard the rumble of another helicopter.

King's Peak sits on one of the ribs I described earlier. Anderson Pass crosses that same rib just to the north of the peak, in a notch between the peak and the spine of the Uinta Crest. Art and Dan were on their way to Anderson Pass when they heard the rumble of another helicopter.