I think that they arrived on the 26th and slept in the van. I do not think that they set up a tent out there, so far away from the van, which was not supposed to be parked there, for any amount of time , to begin with. The van was not parked at a numbered campsite. The hike to a tent out there across 2 streams is really a stretch. jmo
I agree.
I don't think they set up or slept in a tent across the creek.
But I do believe Gabby died where she was found and here's why:
I'm thinking perhaps Gabby had pre-planned to do a sunset photo/video shoot looking back over the mountains from across the creek in the late afternoon / early evening of the 27th, that BL had initially agreed to that and they crossed Spread Creek together... for that purpose.
I'm guessing/assuming BL was experiencing elevated negative emotions left over from the apparent fiasco at Merry Piglets.
I'll even venture to say there is a good chance they were arguing... again.
Once on the other side, his tolerance level already depleted...
Gabby's sunset clock was ticking.
Perhaps Gabby said something or started crying... again.
Imo,
that something was the deciding trigger that threw BL's circuits into overload.
imo
Going back to how Gabby so vividly described and displayed how easily BL grabbed her face, without hesitation just 15 days earlier, on August 12th...
If there was an ounce of hesitation, any desire, whatsoever, to stop and/or walk away that
might have existed in the recent past... that concept was abruptly dismissed the moment his fingertips touched the delicate skin of Gabby's neck.