Rachel Marsden

I'm half-convinced Beard made that up himself. I also suspect he might be the one who named Dead Horse Pass and created the mystique that still influences you into Highline hikers more than a century later.

I'm half-convinced Beard made that up himself. I also suspect he might be the one who named Dead Horse Pass and created the mystique that still influences you into Highline hikers more than a century later.

That backtrack is no small thing. The group from Indiana recommended Art take a detour that I'm going to call the Granddaddy Bypass. It would involve leaving the Highline Trail and dropping down to the south, looping through the Granddaddy Lake Basin and returning to the Highline near Naturalist Basin.

That backtrack is no small thing. The group from Indiana recommended Art take a detour that I'm going to call the Granddaddy Bypass. It would involve leaving the Highline Trail and dropping down to the south, looping through the Granddaddy Lake Basin and returning to the Highline near Naturalist Basin.

That detour would skip both Deadhorse and Rocky Sea Passes, but at the cost of adding significant distance to the trip. We're talking two or three full days of extra walking, most of it through mosquito-infested forest far from the beautiful alpine tundra. Art didn't like that idea. The Hoosiers were insistent, though. They thought Dead Horse looked that scary.

That detour would skip both Deadhorse and Rocky Sea Passes, but at the cost of adding significant distance to the trip. We're talking two or three full days of extra walking, most of it through mosquito-infested forest far from the beautiful alpine tundra. Art didn't like that idea. The Hoosiers were insistent, though. They thought Dead Horse looked that scary.

Art waved off the group from Indiana. Then he and his hiking partner Dan continued on their way toward Red Knob Pass. They soon caught up to some other hikers. One of them asked Art if he had seen an Australian man with a red backpack by the name of Eric Robinson. At that time, I knew he was missing. The couple introduced themselves, Julia Geisler and Blake Summers.

Art waved off the group from Indiana. Then he and his hiking partner Dan continued on their way toward Red Knob Pass. They soon caught up to some other hikers. One of them asked Art if he had seen an Australian man with a red backpack by the name of Eric Robinson. At that time, I knew he was missing. The couple introduced themselves, Julia Geisler and Blake Summers.

They said they were personal friends of Eric's who were involved in the search.

They said they were personal friends of Eric's who were involved in the search.

Art told them his story, how he had learned of the search for Eric a couple of days earlier near Kings Peak, how he had encountered dangerous snow on Anderson Pass, how he had struggled to follow the Highline Trail across the Oweep Basin because of sheep damage. Julia paused every few steps to call Eric's name.

Art told them his story, how he had learned of the search for Eric a couple of days earlier near Kings Peak, how he had encountered dangerous snow on Anderson Pass, how he had struggled to follow the Highline Trail across the Oweep Basin because of sheep damage. Julia paused every few steps to call Eric's name.

The reason was Blake's hunch about Dead Horse Pass. Blake figured Eric might have reached Dead Horse, seen that it was snowbound, and decided not to risk crossing it. If so, Eric might have then reversed course, back over Red Knob Pass, into the Lake Fork drainage, looking for another way around.

The reason was Blake's hunch about Dead Horse Pass. Blake figured Eric might have reached Dead Horse, seen that it was snowbound, and decided not to risk crossing it. If so, Eric might have then reversed course, back over Red Knob Pass, into the Lake Fork drainage, looking for another way around.

Art, Dan, Julia, and Blake were all headed the same direction, going westbound on the highline, ascending Red Knob Pass on their way to Deadhorse. So they walked together and before long reached the top of Red Knob Pass, which is broad and flat. You can stand there, look out to the west, and see Deadhorse Pass a couple miles away.

Art, Dan, Julia, and Blake were all headed the same direction, going westbound on the highline, ascending Red Knob Pass on their way to Deadhorse. So they walked together and before long reached the top of Red Knob Pass, which is broad and flat. You can stand there, look out to the west, and see Deadhorse Pass a couple miles away.

Art saw the bottom two-thirds of the pass were snowbound, along with a short section toward the top. But there was more bare ground than he had expected. When I looked at it, I said, hey, that's not too big a deal. Art told me Julia and Blake were not so encouraged.

Art saw the bottom two-thirds of the pass were snowbound, along with a short section toward the top. But there was more bare ground than he had expected. When I looked at it, I said, hey, that's not too big a deal. Art told me Julia and Blake were not so encouraged.

Julia doesn't dispute saying it, but she told me the entire experience is a jumble in her memory. That makes sense. She was exhausted, under extreme stress, and hyper-focused on her mission. I've stood at that same spot, peered across at Dead Horse, and thought, nope. Dead Horse Pass just looks scary, even when it's not covered in snow.

Julia doesn't dispute saying it, but she told me the entire experience is a jumble in her memory. That makes sense. She was exhausted, under extreme stress, and hyper-focused on her mission. I've stood at that same spot, peered across at Dead Horse, and thought, nope. Dead Horse Pass just looks scary, even when it's not covered in snow.