A very sad day for the family and friends of missing hiker Eric Robinson

I could not put in words what Rachel and Marilyn said in their latest email to everyone.


So much thought and passion of sad news to their dear family and friends.

Photo taken Christmas Day 2009 

Dearest Family and Friends,

 

We have had another long day, leaving Park City at 5am and just returning from the mountains at 8pm. We were met at 7am by a fit and serious looking volunteer group and the medivac helicopter, pilot, nurse and paramedic, who had been deployed for landing and extraction of the searchers. By 10am, three teams were on the mountain in varied locations to bush bash, whistle and sweep search. The Duchanne Search and Rescue were then flown up to a tent that had been spotted by fixed wing aircraft the day before, the tent was not Eric's.

The teams workedhard all day to no avail. The generosity and kindness of the people we have met is incredible and continues to overwhelm. So another unsuccessful day. No further sight or clue. The tracker came in and provided an extensive report but no further clues. Yes, it all felt and continues to feel hopeless.

The sheriff and his team have been very supportive this week and even took mum out to lunch today with his wife. At the end of the day the sheriff discussed with the chopper team and perfectly mum was bought up to the mountain where Julia and I were waiting for a pick up or extraction (if you are talking helicopter speak!). Whilst the chopper returned the guys down the mountain Julia, Mum and I conducted our own farewell ceremony.

 

Our conclusion and that of the sheriff's is that the mountains have decided to keep him, maybe not for ever but certainly for the time being. Together we built a cairn on the edge of the meadow, overlooking a stream, inside we enclosed a photo, we scratched his name onto the rock and we picked some wild flowers and decorated the cairn. We spoke our words of love and thanks for Eric, our words of sorrow that we coud not find him and our words of appreciation that Eric will remain in a wild, beautiful and mountainous place. It was a sad yet beautiful moment which we have many records of to share when we return.

 

I appreciate that this conclusion today may be difficult for many and yes there is a miniscule chance that Eric is alive but the sheriff, mum and I feel this is clutching at straws. I could go through all the details and arguments and rationalisations each way but Mum and the Sheriff have concluded together that everything possible has been done. Their feeling is that Eric has come up against something he was not able to overcome, an electrical storm that was in the area the nights of the 2,3 and 4th, the raging Yellowstone river that has raging torrents after unprecedented rains, a cliff edge in the night, or perhaps a significant illness or incident whilst camped under cover away from the storm. For now we don't know, maybe we will some day soon, maybe we won't. For now the sheriff will continue to send volunteers up to search, our friends here in Utah will search when they have days off but mum and I are coming home to be with our family and be closer to those we love.

 

Thank you for all your support, assistance and kindness. This difficult trip would have been even worse without you all supporting us in your thoughts and prayers.

 

Love for now

Rachel and Marilyn

Our thoughts are with the Koolstra and Eric's families, a lovely man doing what he loves so much.

Let's hope there is a some chance of discovery as to what happened out there in such rugged terrain and climate.