Rachel Marsden

Eric carried extra food, maps, a GPS unit, and an emergency beacon. He had tools to navigate if lost and the ability to summon help if injured. But Eric hadn't hit that panic button, which meant he either didn't think his situation was that bad yet, or he couldn't reach the beacon. Julia hoped Eric was still alive. If he was, his extra food would by now be just about gone.

Eric carried extra food, maps, a GPS unit, and an emergency beacon. He had tools to navigate if lost and the ability to summon help if injured. But Eric hadn't hit that panic button, which meant he either didn't think his situation was that bad yet, or he couldn't reach the beacon. Julia hoped Eric was still alive. If he was, his extra food would by now be just about gone.

Julia and Blake were at the headquarters of the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office, ready to join the search. In the United States, responsibility for search and rescue often falls on county sheriffs. Search and rescue, or SAR teams, are usually made up of volunteers who operate under a sheriff's supervision. But the Uinta Mountains span more than one county.

Julia and Blake were at the headquarters of the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office, ready to join the search. In the United States, responsibility for search and rescue often falls on county sheriffs. Search and rescue, or SAR teams, are usually made up of volunteers who operate under a sheriff's supervision. But the Uinta Mountains span more than one county.

Summit County covers most of the north side, Duchesne County most of the south. Julia hadn't been thinking about this when she first reported Eric missing.

Summit County covers most of the north side, Duchesne County most of the south. Julia hadn't been thinking about this when she first reported Eric missing.

She's right. The Highline Trailhead where Eric was supposed to finish his hike is in Summit County. But only just. You can stand in the parking lot and throw a rock and it'll land in neighboring Duchesne County. Truth is, the Uinta Highline Trail spends most of its time in Duchesne. So, the Summit County Sheriff's Office decided Eric's disappearance wasn't their case.

She's right. The Highline Trailhead where Eric was supposed to finish his hike is in Summit County. But only just. You can stand in the parking lot and throw a rock and it'll land in neighboring Duchesne County. Truth is, the Uinta Highline Trail spends most of its time in Duchesne. So, the Summit County Sheriff's Office decided Eric's disappearance wasn't their case.

They handed it off to Duchesne. And that was a consequential decision, because Duchesne has far fewer search and rescue resources.

They handed it off to Duchesne. And that was a consequential decision, because Duchesne has far fewer search and rescue resources.

Dushane County's home to only about 20,000 people. That's about half as many as live in Summit. And the demographic differences go deeper. Park City, the beating heart of Utah's ski tourism industry, is in Summit. Park City's also home to celebrity mansions and the glitz of the Sundance Film Festival, which means there's a lot more money flowing through Summit than Dushane.

Dushane County's home to only about 20,000 people. That's about half as many as live in Summit. And the demographic differences go deeper. Park City, the beating heart of Utah's ski tourism industry, is in Summit. Park City's also home to celebrity mansions and the glitz of the Sundance Film Festival, which means there's a lot more money flowing through Summit than Dushane.

The difference became apparent as Julia looked around the room. She saw the sheriff, his chief deputy, and a handful of volunteers. She and Blake had come dressed like lightweight hikers, fleece, nylon, trail runners. The Duchesne volunteers were ranchers in thick denim and leather cowboy boots. Julia wondered how such a small team was supposed to mount an effective search.

The difference became apparent as Julia looked around the room. She saw the sheriff, his chief deputy, and a handful of volunteers. She and Blake had come dressed like lightweight hikers, fleece, nylon, trail runners. The Duchesne volunteers were ranchers in thick denim and leather cowboy boots. Julia wondered how such a small team was supposed to mount an effective search.

A problem made worse by the sheer size of the search area. Each of these volunteers knew only bits and pieces of the Uintas, say their favorite fishing hole or a campground close to a road. But the Highline Trail was terra incognita for almost everyone in the room. They hadn't traveled it themselves. Julia's partner Blake probably knew more about the High Line than all the rest of them combined.

A problem made worse by the sheer size of the search area. Each of these volunteers knew only bits and pieces of the Uintas, say their favorite fishing hole or a campground close to a road. But the Highline Trail was terra incognita for almost everyone in the room. They hadn't traveled it themselves. Julia's partner Blake probably knew more about the High Line than all the rest of them combined.

So the sheriff put a map in front of Blake and asked, where do you guys want to go first? Blake said Dead Horse Pass, the most notorious, intimidating place on the Uinta High Line Trail.

So the sheriff put a map in front of Blake and asked, where do you guys want to go first? Blake said Dead Horse Pass, the most notorious, intimidating place on the Uinta High Line Trail.

Blake thought Dead Horse was the most likely place for a highline hiker to have trouble because it's steep and high consequence if you fall. The sheriff agreed. He'd viewed Dead Horse Pass from the air the day before, during his helicopter flight, and saw a troubling amount of snow there. They came up with a plan.

Blake thought Dead Horse was the most likely place for a highline hiker to have trouble because it's steep and high consequence if you fall. The sheriff agreed. He'd viewed Dead Horse Pass from the air the day before, during his helicopter flight, and saw a troubling amount of snow there. They came up with a plan.