Bones in the Backcountry

Eric Robinson took his final photographs at the base of Dead Horse Pass on the Uinta Highline Trail. The name "Dead Horse" is literal: the rocks below the pass are littered with the bones of perished pack animals. But who first coined the name? Uinta Triangle host Dave Cawley suggests it came from a pioneer painter named George Beard, who was one of the first people to carry a camera into the heart of the High Uintas.

Every step in the backcountry brings risk. Some risks can be anticipated, avoided or mitigated. Others are inherent to the experience of adventuring outdoors. Hiker and mountaineer Art Lang joins Uinta Triangle host Dave Cawley for an outing to the High Uintas, where they discuss the "objective hazards" Eric Robinson faced during his Uinta Highline Trail crossing. Art imparts his perspective and wisdom about the best way to build experience and knowledge, so you can adventure safely.

Cases of missing people are sometimes solved by the random discovery of bones in the backcountry. Hunters and hikers stumble across human remains in the most unexpected of places. Utah Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Deirde Amaro and Chief Medical Examiner Investigatigator Dr. Cory Russo share advice for what to do if you ever discover human bones far from civilization.

Eric Robinson's disappearance left a void in the lives of the people who loved him, most notably his wife, Marilyn Koolstra. Uinta Triangle host Dave Cawley joins Marilyn in a visit to Valkstone Primary School, where Eric worked as a groundskeeper during his retirement, to reflect on his life and legacy.

A 3-year-old boy wanders away from camp in the Uinta Mountains, leading to a panicked search. Uinta Triangle host Dave Cawley covered the case of Benjamin Myrup's disappearance when it happened. In this bonus episode, Dave revisits the case years later to learn what Benjamin's parents experienced behind the scenes of the search.

The word "Uinta" is foreign to many people, but not to native speakers of the Ute language. Larry Cesspooch, a member of the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, shares what the Uinta Mountains mean to himself and his people. Uinta Triangle host Dave Cawley also asks for Larry's help in learning the meaning of other Ute placenames, which are critical in helping keep the Ute language from becoming extinct.

Late in the summer of 1940, a government surveyor named Lynn Simmons vanished near Lamotte Peak in the High Uintas. Crowds of searchers scoured the mountain wilderness but never found any trace of Lynn. Over time, his case was forgotten by all but a few relatives. In this bonus episode, Uinta Triangle host Dave Cawley connects with Lynn's family to bring his memory back to the forefront.

Isn't it dangerous to hike solo? News reporter Shara Park questions Uinta Triangle host Dave Cawley about the risks and rewards of heading into the backcountry alone. Together, they see how Eric Robinson's drive to tackle long trails came from a place of deep longing he couldn't deny.

Field recordings of nature sounds are woven through the Eric Robinson story in the Uinta Triangle podcast. In this bonus episode, podcast producer Jenny Ament and host Dave Cawley nerd out about field recording tools and techniques. Find out what it takes to haul microphones deep into the backcountry, to capture audio of wild places.

EPISODE 9 -- Marilyn Koolstra embarks on an unexpected pilgrimage to the place where her husband, Eric Robinson, lost his life in the Uinta Mountains. The journey into the wilderness tests her physical, mental and emotional limits. But Marilyn doesn’t travel alone. Friendships forged through tragedy help carry her through to the end.