Rachel Marsden

A murder in the mountains might seem far-fetched, but it's not entirely without precedent. In 1983, a pair of Forest Service workers smelled what they thought was an animal carcass at a place called Christmas Meadows. They went to investigate and found the partially decomposed body of an unidentified man. He had been shot in the back of the head, execution style.

A murder in the mountains might seem far-fetched, but it's not entirely without precedent. In 1983, a pair of Forest Service workers smelled what they thought was an animal carcass at a place called Christmas Meadows. They went to investigate and found the partially decomposed body of an unidentified man. He had been shot in the back of the head, execution style.

This man's never been identified, and his killer has never been caught. A sheepherder traveling through the same area a year later came across a skull and collarbone. These were from a different person, not the John Doe I just mentioned. Dental records proved the skull belonged to a young man from England. He'd also been murdered, but no one's ever faced criminal charges in that case.

This man's never been identified, and his killer has never been caught. A sheepherder traveling through the same area a year later came across a skull and collarbone. These were from a different person, not the John Doe I just mentioned. Dental records proved the skull belonged to a young man from England. He'd also been murdered, but no one's ever faced criminal charges in that case.

Julia wasn't aware of any evidence, suggesting a stranger might have attacked Eric on the trail, but she couldn't rule it out. That thought lodged in the back of her mind.

Julia wasn't aware of any evidence, suggesting a stranger might have attacked Eric on the trail, but she couldn't rule it out. That thought lodged in the back of her mind.

The helicopter slowed as it neared the spine of the Uinta crest. The pilot circled, looking for a good place to land. Julie wasn't sure exactly where they were, aside from knowing the spot where the chopper landed was near the Highline Trail.

The helicopter slowed as it neared the spine of the Uinta crest. The pilot circled, looking for a good place to land. Julie wasn't sure exactly where they were, aside from knowing the spot where the chopper landed was near the Highline Trail.

I can tell you from official reports, they were in the upper reaches of the Lake Fork drainage, about two-thirds the way along Eric's intended path. Julia and Blake were going to follow the trail west, the same direction Eric would have been traveling. About a half-day's walk would take them to Red Knob Pass, which they would cross on their way to Dead Horse Pass.

I can tell you from official reports, they were in the upper reaches of the Lake Fork drainage, about two-thirds the way along Eric's intended path. Julia and Blake were going to follow the trail west, the same direction Eric would have been traveling. About a half-day's walk would take them to Red Knob Pass, which they would cross on their way to Dead Horse Pass.

That's the spot on the map Blake had pointed to, where he thought it was most likely Eric could have had trouble. The helicopter lifted off, leaving them alone. Julia and Blake hoisted their backpacks and started moving, going slow while searching through forested areas beside the trail.

That's the spot on the map Blake had pointed to, where he thought it was most likely Eric could have had trouble. The helicopter lifted off, leaving them alone. Julia and Blake hoisted their backpacks and started moving, going slow while searching through forested areas beside the trail.

At the same time, Art Lang and Dan McCool were continuing their own trek on the Uinta Highline Trail. We met Art and Dan before. They're the two guys who were just hiking the highline for fun and who started their walk about a week after Eric. They had learned about Eric on Tuesday before crossing Anderson Pass. It was now Wednesday, and they were watching for Eric as they moved along the trail.

At the same time, Art Lang and Dan McCool were continuing their own trek on the Uinta Highline Trail. We met Art and Dan before. They're the two guys who were just hiking the highline for fun and who started their walk about a week after Eric. They had learned about Eric on Tuesday before crossing Anderson Pass. It was now Wednesday, and they were watching for Eric as they moved along the trail.

They'd seen one dangerous spot already, those unexpected snow drifts at Anderson Pass. Now they came to another pass called Porcupine and were relieved to find it was free of snow. Porcupine is number four of the seven passes Eric would have had to cross. It sits way above Timberline, and it's surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the range.

They'd seen one dangerous spot already, those unexpected snow drifts at Anderson Pass. Now they came to another pass called Porcupine and were relieved to find it was free of snow. Porcupine is number four of the seven passes Eric would have had to cross. It sits way above Timberline, and it's surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the range.

It's very scenic, and that's the whole reason Art was walking the highline.

It's very scenic, and that's the whole reason Art was walking the highline.

To the west of Porcupine Pass, the Uinta Highline crosses the Oweep Basin. Oweep is a Ute Indian word that means grass. The floor of this basin explodes with greenery and wildflowers during the brief alpine summer. That makes it a popular place for sheepherders. Art looked down into the basin and saw a trampled mess.

To the west of Porcupine Pass, the Uinta Highline crosses the Oweep Basin. Oweep is a Ute Indian word that means grass. The floor of this basin explodes with greenery and wildflowers during the brief alpine summer. That makes it a popular place for sheepherders. Art looked down into the basin and saw a trampled mess.