Rachel Marsden

The two parties made their way down from Red Knob, into the cirque between Red Knob and Dead Horse Passes. They hiked a few miles through a forested stretch of trail before reaching Dead Horse Lake. From the shore, Art looked across the milky blue water and eyed the snowfield stretching up the cliffy slope on the far side.

The two parties made their way down from Red Knob, into the cirque between Red Knob and Dead Horse Passes. They hiked a few miles through a forested stretch of trail before reaching Dead Horse Lake. From the shore, Art looked across the milky blue water and eyed the snowfield stretching up the cliffy slope on the far side.

It still looked intimidating, but even more doable than it had appeared from a distance.

It still looked intimidating, but even more doable than it had appeared from a distance.

Art felt a surge of confidence and relief he hadn't taken the advice of the Indiana group about the Granddaddy Bypass. Deadhorse would go.

Art felt a surge of confidence and relief he hadn't taken the advice of the Indiana group about the Granddaddy Bypass. Deadhorse would go.

Art and Dan said goodbye to Julia and Blake, who were going to search for Eric around Deadhorse Lake, stay the night there, then hike out the next day. The two parties exchanged contact information and promised to update one another when they'd both returned to Civilization. Art and Dan then made their way around the lake, to the toe of the snowfield. Art stepped onto the snow.

Art and Dan said goodbye to Julia and Blake, who were going to search for Eric around Deadhorse Lake, stay the night there, then hike out the next day. The two parties exchanged contact information and promised to update one another when they'd both returned to Civilization. Art and Dan then made their way around the lake, to the toe of the snowfield. Art stepped onto the snow.

It wasn't soft and powdery, but instead dense and icy. The angle was mellow enough, at least here at the bottom, he could walk straight up the snowfield like a ramp. If he fell, it wouldn't be that bad. He wouldn't slide all that far before coming to a stop.

It wasn't soft and powdery, but instead dense and icy. The angle was mellow enough, at least here at the bottom, he could walk straight up the snowfield like a ramp. If he fell, it wouldn't be that bad. He wouldn't slide all that far before coming to a stop.

but the angle increased the farther he went. Soon, Art and Dan were kicking in toe holds, then leaning forward into the slope to use their hands as well. The most dangerous spot on Dead Horse Pass is about two-thirds the way up, where the trail runs directly above a band of cliffs. A fall there could kill you, and the danger only increases when that spot's covered with snow.

but the angle increased the farther he went. Soon, Art and Dan were kicking in toe holds, then leaning forward into the slope to use their hands as well. The most dangerous spot on Dead Horse Pass is about two-thirds the way up, where the trail runs directly above a band of cliffs. A fall there could kill you, and the danger only increases when that spot's covered with snow.

Art remained focused as he approached this crux. He could see it was mostly clear. He reached the top of the snowfield and found the muddy, slippery stripe of the Highline Trail. The trail there's narrow and off-camber, meaning you have to lean to one side to stay upright. But that's still far safer than vertical snow. The rest of the way up was a breeze.

Art remained focused as he approached this crux. He could see it was mostly clear. He reached the top of the snowfield and found the muddy, slippery stripe of the Highline Trail. The trail there's narrow and off-camber, meaning you have to lean to one side to stay upright. But that's still far safer than vertical snow. The rest of the way up was a breeze.

Art and Dan made it to the top of Dead Horse safely. But Art wondered how much worse that snow might have been a week or so earlier when Eric Robinson might have encountered it.

Art and Dan made it to the top of Dead Horse safely. But Art wondered how much worse that snow might have been a week or so earlier when Eric Robinson might have encountered it.

The glare of a video light shined in Marilyn's eyes, blinding her to the view of a TV news camera pointed at her face. She sat in a leather armchair in a home that wasn't her own, trying not to think about how odd the situation was. A reporter asked when she had last seen her husband Eric. Here is what she said, straight from the archives of KSL TV.

The glare of a video light shined in Marilyn's eyes, blinding her to the view of a TV news camera pointed at her face. She sat in a leather armchair in a home that wasn't her own, trying not to think about how odd the situation was. A reporter asked when she had last seen her husband Eric. Here is what she said, straight from the archives of KSL TV.

like he could turn up at any moment and chastise her for causing a scene, just as he had after his delay on the Cascade Saddle in New Zealand. She had been on the floor at LAX just a few hours before, ready to give up, but she gave no sign of that despair in this interview. Now, I was not personally in the room for this interview.

like he could turn up at any moment and chastise her for causing a scene, just as he had after his delay on the Cascade Saddle in New Zealand. She had been on the floor at LAX just a few hours before, ready to give up, but she gave no sign of that despair in this interview. Now, I was not personally in the room for this interview.