Julia Geisler

And my partner Blake was very familiar with it. So I started looking at the map and, you know, it was a pretty cool adventure.

And my partner Blake was very familiar with it. So I started looking at the map and, you know, it was a pretty cool adventure.

He invited me to come with him and it was a big snow year and I opted not to.

He invited me to come with him and it was a big snow year and I opted not to.

When you're looking at going over passes on a high alpine trail, that gets hairy quickly if you don't have the right crampons and poles.

When you're looking at going over passes on a high alpine trail, that gets hairy quickly if you don't have the right crampons and poles.

So that snow took a long time to melt. Even in August, it's still up there in the high mountains.

So that snow took a long time to melt. Even in August, it's still up there in the high mountains.

Yeah, I just said, you know, I don't think the timing is great right now. And he respected that. But he was like, well, I'm coming. So can you help me out with logistics of picking me up and getting me to the airport? And I was definitely excited to see him.

Yeah, I just said, you know, I don't think the timing is great right now. And he respected that. But he was like, well, I'm coming. So can you help me out with logistics of picking me up and getting me to the airport? And I was definitely excited to see him.

He was prepared. He had extra food, a couple days worth of extra food.

He was prepared. He had extra food, a couple days worth of extra food.

He had physical maps, a compass, a GPS unit, I think a whistle, like just anything you could think of for navigation and emergency purposes, he had it in there.

He had physical maps, a compass, a GPS unit, I think a whistle, like just anything you could think of for navigation and emergency purposes, he had it in there.

From Australia, he arranged to have a rancher dude pick him up in Vernal and take him to the Highline Trailhead, which is, you know, it's not off of a main freeway or anything. You got to kind of want to get there and figure out your transportation there. It's not like a taxi's going to take you there. So you found this guy that, if you could get to Vernal, would take him to the Trailhead and...

From Australia, he arranged to have a rancher dude pick him up in Vernal and take him to the Highline Trailhead, which is, you know, it's not off of a main freeway or anything. You got to kind of want to get there and figure out your transportation there. It's not like a taxi's going to take you there. So you found this guy that, if you could get to Vernal, would take him to the Trailhead and...

And it's like, I'll see you in ten days at the Highline Trailhead on the Merrill Lake Highway. And that's the last time I saw Eric was dropping him off at that bus stop.

And it's like, I'll see you in ten days at the Highline Trailhead on the Merrill Lake Highway. And that's the last time I saw Eric was dropping him off at that bus stop.