Found Deceased Spain - Esther Dingley, from UK, missing in the Pyrenees, November 2020

[RickshawFan]

BBM Her water pouch can be seen on the table in this photo posted on the 18th Nov -

https://www.facebook.com/estheranddan/photos/p.1474636742733703/1474636742733703/?type=3

This photo is one of the reasons, IMO ED is well-equipped. Let me explain.

That's a VERY expensive sleeping bag. It uses ultralight fabric. You can see the down fibers right through it. This kind of bag has very high end down. This category of bag is going to be $600+. It's also nice and puffy!

The Thermarest is $100+, but could be as much as $200, depending on the model. (On a side note, if she went for a cheaper model, she'd defeat the whole purpose of that sleeping bag, and would sleep EXTREMELY cold. Most people don't know this factoid.).

As appropriate, she has a ground cloth.

She has a stove, pot, and fuel. She might even have a bowl/cup.

The red bag is prolly her food bag.

She has a lighter, presumably for the stove and the fire.

She has a water supply of some kind. She might have under-estimated how much she'd need, but that's a whole separate topic, and we have no way to answer that question.

******
Side point, she'd be bugged by mice all night in that situation!

 

[PeggyHenry]

In both lenses, where the frame curves near her nose, does anyone see 1) a black labrador type dog with white lead around neck and 2) figure of a man, with short white hair

I have had a look and I can see the head of a man..

What strikes me is Esther’s smile. It’s a lovely genuine smile. Imagine doing a selfie if you were totally alone.. in fact go through the motions. For me, I do a smile that is a smile for the sake of a selfie! Esther looks like she is genuinely smiling for someone. JMO

 

[CoverMeCagney]

In both lenses, where the frame curves near her nose, does anyone see 1) a black labrador type dog with white lead around neck and 2) figure of a man, with short white hair ?

More to the point, on the far right of the photo, is that not shadows of people? Strange rock formations if not.

 

[PeggyHenry]

More to the point, on the far right of the photo, is that not shadows of people? Strange rock formations if not.

View attachment 275408

Apologies.. I’ve now enlarged and what I thought was a man’s head was esthers hand . I see clearly what resembles a head of a Labrador with white lead and a black figure.. but I’m not totally convinced that’s what they are!

the shadows do look like shadows of people!

 

[Officer Dibble]

I have had a look and I can see the head of a man..

What strikes me is Esther’s smile. It’s a lovely genuine smile. Imagine doing a selfie if you were totally alone.. in fact go through the motions. For me, I do a smile that is a smile for the sake of a selfie! Esther looks like she is genuinely smiling for someone. JMO

Good point

 

[Grouse]

Apologies.. I’ve now enlarged and what I thought was a man’s head was esthers hand . I see clearly what resembles a head of a Labrador with white lead and a black figure.. but I’m not totally convinced that’s what they are!

the shadows do look like shadows of people!

Yes I can also see what could be a black dog's head now but it could easily be a rock. I can't see a man's head but can clearly see Esther's hand and the phone she is holding.

I commented on those shadow figures before upthread but looking at them now I'm not sure what they are. If they are shadows aren't they being cast onto the valley at the far side? Doesn't make sense, very odd.

 

[RickshawFan]

I disagree with the source. I am 100% convinced in my own judgement that the two photos were taken on the same day. The sky on the horizon seems to have an identical quality. I think even the same stray hair is glistening on her forehead, tuft of loose hair on top right of her head, and her water tube is there it's just more hidden in the second photo because of the angle of the photo. I don't believe it would have still been that bright of light at the top on the Sunday, given the time of her passing the hikers at 3pm and having more than an hour's trek ahead.

these are the two photos side by side to save searching back through the thread

I totally agree with you on this; both on the same day. On one, the black collar was rucked up, the other not. She could have got something out of her pack and put it back on. She could taken off a top and put another one on. She could have removed a layer. A thousand ways the shirts would look different, even in the span of 5 minutes.

 

[Wowno17]

Missing Esther Dingley's secrets, by the last man to see her alive Missing Esther Dingley's secrets, by the last man to see her alive | Daily Mail Online

It's a shame the DM didn't get an interview with the man's grandson who was also in the car with them, maybe he doesn't speak French.

MOO

 

[Grouse]

Not a very well translated article (and a very unfortunate translation error in the 4th paragraph from the end )- Misses Esther Dingley's secrets when the last man saw her alive – Worlds Update
but this is the only one I've seen mention divers.

"France has specialized teams of ice divers who can enter mountain lakes, but the problem in winter is getting them into position.

And without clear evidence that Esther fell into one, it would be impossible to use divers on all of the lakes in the area."

Mr. Ballarin said, "I think if you search these lakes properly with divers, there is a chance you will find Esther's body and possibly even that of other climbers who have disappeared."

 

[otto]

For clarity, I'm not saying some poles don't come with loops on the handles. AFAIK all trekking poles have webbing loops on the handles. I'm saying hikers often don't use the loops for safety reasons.
I will say, though, that the poles in that photo of ED are the style usually used for nordic skiing. With that palm grip on them, ED might have been tempted to put them over her hands, but this would be exactly problematic in an accident. If they snagged on the "wrong" trailside feature, they'd quick as a wink jettison you off the trail. And You can't get them off quickly! And what if your hand broke?
[I am speaking from experience in this and other posts in this thread about gear. I own and use both these styles of poles myself: the X-country ski version and the hiking/trekking/trail running version.]

Exactly - depends on how she used the poles, but if she had her hands in the hand loops, she couldn't dis-entangle from the poles if she fell or tumbled. I have the Leki poles with thumb and finger web grips. If I use the grips, the poles are staying on my hands even if I tumble down a mountain.

 

[ZaZara]

Not a very well translated article (and a very unfortunate translation error in the 4th paragraph from the end )- Misses Esther Dingley's secrets when the last man saw her alive – Worlds Update
but this is the only one I've seen mention divers.

"France has specialized teams of ice divers who can enter mountain lakes, but the problem in winter is getting them into position.

And without clear evidence that Esther fell into one, it would be impossible to use divers on all of the lakes in the area."

Mr. Ballarin said, "I think if you search these lakes properly with divers, there is a chance you will find Esther's body and possibly even that of other climbers who have disappeared."

my idea of a good hike! better take the elevator!

 

[otto]

In both lenses, where the frame curves near her nose, does anyone see 1) a black labrador type dog with white lead around neck and 2) figure of a man, with short white hair ?

That could be her backpack. We can see her hand holding the camera for a selfie in the lens on the left.

 

[Deleted member 277705]

That could be her backpack. We can see her hand holding the camera for a selfie in the lens on the left.

That could be her backpack ??? It has to be something in front of her to reflect an image onto the lens. Her backpack is behind her.

 

[Deleted member 277705]

It appears ED met quite a few people on the summits, although we are only aware of one or two. It is feasible that these people have given statements to their relevant LE agencies and it is also feasible that the sharing of information between the agencies is not perhaps 100%. Both LE's are not revealing or confirming who the last known person was to sight or communicate with ED, nor are they forthcoming about the time of this. The skier was not the last person to sight ED. There were others on the mountain behind him – and she was going up. Perhaps she also stopped and asked them if they had fruit etc ? The final person known to talk to or sight a missing person is absolutely crucial in such investigations.

 

[otto]

That could be her backpack ??? It has to be something in front of her to reflect an image onto the lens. Her backpack is behind her.

We can imagine that we see a man in shadow and his black dog in the image, but it has been reported as a selfie with solar panel and wifi stick.

There's her hand on the phone/camera in her glasses reflection. All reflections are consistent with the horizon, gullies, crevasses and a long sun.

 

[otto]

It appears ED met quite a few people on the summits, although we are only aware of one or two. It is feasible that these people have given statements to their relevant LE agencies and it is also feasible that the sharing of information between the agencies is not perhaps 100%. Both LE's are not revealing or confirming who the last known person was to sight or communicate with ED, nor are they forthcoming about the time of this. The skier was not the last person to sight ED. There were others on the mountain behind him – and she was going up. Perhaps she also stopped and asked them if they had fruit etc ? The final person known to talk to or sight a missing person is absolutely crucial in such investigations.

Yes, someone upthread, perhaps Grouse, apologies for not remembering, put together a list of 8 people that Esther was in contact with over a period of a couple of days, including the chia seed grocery store discount confusion.

Do you have a link to others who saw her on the trail at, or after, she was at the summit of Pic de Sauvegarde? We have a witness to her climbing the peak on Nov 22 at 4PM. According to her plan, she had 90 minutes of sunlight to hike from the peak to the hostel - apparently enough time to safely arrive a Refugio de Venasque.

It's always good to speculate that there were other witnesses, but we know that very few people were on the trails near the refugio/hostel due to covid lockdown.

 

[Deleted member 277705]

We can imagine that we see a man in shadow and his black dog in the image, but it has been reported as a selfie with solar panel and wifi stick.

There's her hand on the phone/camera in her glasses reflection. All reflections are consistent with the horizon, gullies, crevasses and a long sun.

View attachment 275434

Everything reflected in her glasses is in front of her. The backpack is behind her, so that cannot be reflected in her lens.

 

[otto]

Was it you that listed the 8 people Kaykedi? Apologies for not remembering - I read all the comments and ...

Who interacted with her after Nov 19:

• grocery store clerk (Nov 19)
• teacher at grocery store who translated, heading to work (Nov 19)
• mystery photographer (afternoon Nov 19)
• November 20 ?
• 70 year old man and grandson (morning Nov 21 ? )
• olympic skier and partner (Nov 22, 3PM)

That's only 7. Was there someone else?

Are these dates correct?

 

[otto]

Everything reflected in her glasses is in front of her. The backpack is behind her, so that cannot be reflected in her lens.

Her hand, holding her phone, is reflected in the lens. It has been released that the photo was taken using a solar panel and wifi stick.

I don't see anything sinister in her glasses reflection, and information released by investigators regarding details about the photo and reflection in her glasses seem authentic.

 

[Kaykedi]

Was it you that listed the 8 people Kaykedi? Apologies for not remembering - I read all the comments and ...

Who interacted with her after Nov 19:

• grocery store clerk (Nov 19)
• teacher at grocery store who translated, heading to work (Nov 19)
• mystery photographer (afternoon Nov 19)
• November 20 ?
• 70 year old man and grandson (morning Nov 21 ? )
• olympic skier and partner (Nov 22, 3PM)

That's only 7. Was there someone else?

Are these dates correct?

No otto, it wasn't me. You've got me trying to think of the 8th person now