Rachel Marsden

Whoever dropped this cash intended to come back for it. But when? They didn't leave a note. I imagine they planned to build a big bonfire on the delicate tundra, scarring the earth, leaving their empty aluminum cans scattered about.

Whoever dropped this cash intended to come back for it. But when? They didn't leave a note. I imagine they planned to build a big bonfire on the delicate tundra, scarring the earth, leaving their empty aluminum cans scattered about.

There is a responsible, discreet way to leave a food cache. This was not it. Look, I know I'm giving off old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn energy right now, but I'm passionate about this. Wilderness matters to me, and not just because I enjoy solitude. We protect these spaces on behalf of other living creatures, too. That's the sound of Wapiti, the Rocky Mountain Elk.

There is a responsible, discreet way to leave a food cache. This was not it. Look, I know I'm giving off old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn energy right now, but I'm passionate about this. Wilderness matters to me, and not just because I enjoy solitude. We protect these spaces on behalf of other living creatures, too. That's the sound of Wapiti, the Rocky Mountain Elk.

I made this recording at a spot on the south side of the Uinta Crest. At the time, domestic sheep herds were still far away on the north slope. I wouldn't have caught these elk otherwise because they won't share space with sheep. That is so cool. It was a large herd, moving through a lush meadow about 100 meters or 350 feet away.

I made this recording at a spot on the south side of the Uinta Crest. At the time, domestic sheep herds were still far away on the north slope. I wouldn't have caught these elk otherwise because they won't share space with sheep. That is so cool. It was a large herd, moving through a lush meadow about 100 meters or 350 feet away.

Even at that distance, some of the elk were alert to my presence and stood guard protecting their calves and yearlings.

Even at that distance, some of the elk were alert to my presence and stood guard protecting their calves and yearlings.

Elk were nearly hunted out of the Uintas in the late 1800s. They've rebounded, but a Uinta Highline hiker is still far more likely to run into thousands of sheep than they are just a few elk. Eric Robinson's outdoor ethic mirrors my own. He intended to leave no trace. But that meant when he disappeared, the people who went out to search for him had very little to go on.

Elk were nearly hunted out of the Uintas in the late 1800s. They've rebounded, but a Uinta Highline hiker is still far more likely to run into thousands of sheep than they are just a few elk. Eric Robinson's outdoor ethic mirrors my own. He intended to leave no trace. But that meant when he disappeared, the people who went out to search for him had very little to go on.

Marilyn Kulstra didn't sleep on the flight from Australia to the United States, and not just because of the bachelor party boys seated all around her. She felt unsettled about what awaited her. That made the hours stretch.

Marilyn Kulstra didn't sleep on the flight from Australia to the United States, and not just because of the bachelor party boys seated all around her. She felt unsettled about what awaited her. That made the hours stretch.

Marilyn felt exhausted by the time they taxied to the gate at LAX. She and her daughter Rachel were among the last off the plane. They went along like sheep in a herd of hundreds of other passengers, all headed toward customs. The line stacked up, meaning Marilyn and Rachel had to wait. And wait. As they shuffled forward, Marilyn considered the questions the customs officer might ask.

Marilyn felt exhausted by the time they taxied to the gate at LAX. She and her daughter Rachel were among the last off the plane. They went along like sheep in a herd of hundreds of other passengers, all headed toward customs. The line stacked up, meaning Marilyn and Rachel had to wait. And wait. As they shuffled forward, Marilyn considered the questions the customs officer might ask.

What's the purpose of your visit? Business or pleasure? I'm here to look for my missing husband. What does that count as? How long do you plan to stay in the United States? I don't know. They made it through customs at last, then headed for baggage claim. They needed to retrieve their checked bags and recheck them onto their connecting flight to Salt Lake City.

What's the purpose of your visit? Business or pleasure? I'm here to look for my missing husband. What does that count as? How long do you plan to stay in the United States? I don't know. They made it through customs at last, then headed for baggage claim. They needed to retrieve their checked bags and recheck them onto their connecting flight to Salt Lake City.

But when they reached the carousel, their bags weren't there. Maryland had brought a big empty suitcase because she feared Eric might be dead and she would need the space to transport his possessions back home. But that suitcase, and her own, were nowhere to be seen. She hadn't even made it to Utah yet, and already she felt as if she had failed.

But when they reached the carousel, their bags weren't there. Maryland had brought a big empty suitcase because she feared Eric might be dead and she would need the space to transport his possessions back home. But that suitcase, and her own, were nowhere to be seen. She hadn't even made it to Utah yet, and already she felt as if she had failed.

She sank to her knees. The overhead lights glared off the cold, hard floor. Other travelers stepped around her, no one taking notice or stopping to ask if she was okay. But Rachel reached out to remind Marilyn, you're not alone.

She sank to her knees. The overhead lights glared off the cold, hard floor. Other travelers stepped around her, no one taking notice or stopping to ask if she was okay. But Rachel reached out to remind Marilyn, you're not alone.