Marilyn Koolstra

He instead made his own plans to go to New Zealand by himself to solo hike the Cascade Saddle, a challenging trekking route just to the southeast of Mount Aspiring. Marilyn felt apprehensive, but took comfort in the idea Alan would be close by if anything went wrong, which it soon did.

He instead made his own plans to go to New Zealand by himself to solo hike the Cascade Saddle, a challenging trekking route just to the southeast of Mount Aspiring. Marilyn felt apprehensive, but took comfort in the idea Alan would be close by if anything went wrong, which it soon did.

They met up a couple of times in New Zealand until that had a sad ending.

They met up a couple of times in New Zealand until that had a sad ending.

Eric and Alan departed from Melbourne separately.

Eric and Alan departed from Melbourne separately.

They went off in different directions, or they arrived at different times, but the base was Blanica.

They went off in different directions, or they arrived at different times, but the base was Blanica.

The tourist town of Wanaka sits at the foot of a beautiful lake. There's a footpath along the shore. Eric and Alan bumped into each other there. Eric said he expected to be back from the Cascade Saddle before Alan left for Mount Aspiring, so they could grab a drink when their paths crossed again. Then Eric headed off on his trek, which brings us back to where our story first started.

The tourist town of Wanaka sits at the foot of a beautiful lake. There's a footpath along the shore. Eric and Alan bumped into each other there. Eric said he expected to be back from the Cascade Saddle before Alan left for Mount Aspiring, so they could grab a drink when their paths crossed again. Then Eric headed off on his trek, which brings us back to where our story first started.

Marilyn, receiving that phone call from Alan, letting her know Eric was overdue.

Marilyn, receiving that phone call from Alan, letting her know Eric was overdue.

He was confident that it was just a rain delay and instead of walking in the pouring rain, you would stay dry in your tent.

He was confident that it was just a rain delay and instead of walking in the pouring rain, you would stay dry in your tent.

But hours passed, stretching into a full day with no word from Eric. Marilyn wondered, what if he had slipped, fallen, and cracked his head on a rock? No one would know.

But hours passed, stretching into a full day with no word from Eric. Marilyn wondered, what if he had slipped, fallen, and cracked his head on a rock? No one would know.

So I called Department of Foreign Affairs and they liaised with New Zealand. The message went down the track and all the conservation department workers were on alert.

So I called Department of Foreign Affairs and they liaised with New Zealand. The message went down the track and all the conservation department workers were on alert.

Still, no word came. Where was Eric? Every passing minute cast additional doubt in Marilyn's mind that her husband was simply sitting in a tent, waiting out a storm. But it seemed all she could do was wait and hope. A haggard hiker carrying a red backpack walked up to the aspiring hut on the side of the Matuketuki River around midday on March 2nd, 2008.

Still, no word came. Where was Eric? Every passing minute cast additional doubt in Marilyn's mind that her husband was simply sitting in a tent, waiting out a storm. But it seemed all she could do was wait and hope. A haggard hiker carrying a red backpack walked up to the aspiring hut on the side of the Matuketuki River around midday on March 2nd, 2008.