Marilyn Koolstra

He reached for the door handle and stepped inside.

He reached for the door handle and stepped inside.

And one of the workers, a Scottish lady, was standing at the door of the hut and Eric walked in and she said, oh, you're Mr. Robinson, I presume.

And one of the workers, a Scottish lady, was standing at the door of the hut and Eric walked in and she said, oh, you're Mr. Robinson, I presume.

the door fell shut behind Eric. He shrugged off his pack and explained how he had sheltered in his tent atop Cascade Saddle for two straight days. When the storm broke that morning, he rushed to make a treacherous descent down to the hut.

the door fell shut behind Eric. He shrugged off his pack and explained how he had sheltered in his tent atop Cascade Saddle for two straight days. When the storm broke that morning, he rushed to make a treacherous descent down to the hut.

Eric smiled and it was a bit of a laugh about, you know, how people worry.

Eric smiled and it was a bit of a laugh about, you know, how people worry.

It all seemed a bit silly to Eric. He hadn't realized anyone was looking for him. Eric made it back to Wanaka a day later and called home to let Marilyn know he was okay.

It all seemed a bit silly to Eric. He hadn't realized anyone was looking for him. Eric made it back to Wanaka a day later and called home to let Marilyn know he was okay.

Oh, he called. Yeah, what were you thinking? What were you doing? You're a troublemaker. Look what you've done. Caused a bit of concern. And we had a bit of a laugh about it, but we also talked about the safety angle of that.

Oh, he called. Yeah, what were you thinking? What were you doing? You're a troublemaker. Look what you've done. Caused a bit of concern. And we had a bit of a laugh about it, but we also talked about the safety angle of that.

Eric's safety was never in question, at least from his perspective. Marilyn saw it differently. Yes, Eric had come out of this situation okay, but getting stranded on Cascade Saddle highlighted how his choice to go out alone amplified the risks he faced. Marilyn told Eric how awful she'd felt during those uncertain hours. She didn't want to go through that ever again. So she said,

Eric's safety was never in question, at least from his perspective. Marilyn saw it differently. Yes, Eric had come out of this situation okay, but getting stranded on Cascade Saddle highlighted how his choice to go out alone amplified the risks he faced. Marilyn told Eric how awful she'd felt during those uncertain hours. She didn't want to go through that ever again. So she said,

So far, you've walked by yourself. Maybe you can't go by yourself anymore.

So far, you've walked by yourself. Maybe you can't go by yourself anymore.

He shrugged her off, saying, don't worry so much. I'm fine. In fact, he was already repacking Ruby, getting ready to go out on another solo hike. He went to buy some food and ran into Alan.

He shrugged her off, saying, don't worry so much. I'm fine. In fact, he was already repacking Ruby, getting ready to go out on another solo hike. He went to buy some food and ran into Alan.

They crossed paths fleetingly because Alan held back in Wanaka to make sure that Eric was safe. I think maybe a day's delay. And they had maybe a five-minute, ten-minute conversation.

They crossed paths fleetingly because Alan held back in Wanaka to make sure that Eric was safe. I think maybe a day's delay. And they had maybe a five-minute, ten-minute conversation.