Found Deceased Spain - Esther Dingley, from UK, missing in the Pyrenees, November 2020 #1

[Ruthbullock]

OK, here's a summary.

Any statement that says "Her route was from Port de Glere to Venasque" is, IMO, wrong.

Any statement that says "The search area, ,or, the area being searched, is between Port de Glere and Venasque and the slopes on either side" is, IMO, right.

Any Statement that say "Her route was from Benasque to Port Venasque, then along the Chemin L'imperatrice in France to Port de Glere, and back to Benasque" is, IMO, right.

Thanks, I sort of understood that. Where do you think she was walking on that last day?

 

[ZaZara]

I’m confusing myself now- so was Esther seen by the skier walking from pic de sauvegarde (where she posted a selfie) downhill towards the refuge, or had she been up and back down and was walking back uphill towards the refuge? The more I read, the more I am struggling match up selfies and witness statements made on the 22nd. (And that’s ignoring the man who claimed he gave her a lift with his grandson and was the last person to see her alive). If anyone feels like dumbing it down for me at this moment in time please feel free.

Marti del Vigo (skier) was going down the Salvaguardia when they met Esther going up. He and his female friend were the last ones to see her alive, as far as we know now. It is unknown (as far as I am aware) where Esther had passed the night.

The man who gave her a lift, saw her on the day before.

 

[Grouse]

Yes, that is true. Normally, a hiker would say "hey, nice to see you, so I'm not the only crazy one to be doing this in late November" I guess one could speculate that, instead, a super bad tempered hiker might have say "Oh no, another human, I expected to be alone on this trip" and then proceeded to murder her and hide her body in order to properly enjoy the wilderness solitude they were seeking. Or perhaps, they thought she had better quality stuff, and decided to kill her and hide her in a lake, in order to steal it....end of speculation.

Hmm, yes that is a bit more than I'd speculated

I wasn't thinking that much into it, just wanting to make the point that I don't agree with everyone concluding no one else coulda been up there, just cos of what the skier guy said.

 

[Ruthbullock]

So Esther was walking up past the refuge, as in the pictures attached, or did she come from the other side of the summit where she saw the skier? This is the part I’m struggling to visualise in my head, sorry I know I’m being a pain.
If she came up the opposite face, then in order to reach the refuge she had to clamber down snowy scree towards the lake and would then have to walk around to get to the refuge.
Pyrenees Post 9

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

Hmm, yes that is a bit more than I'd speculated

I wasn't thinking that much into it, just wanting to make the point that I don't agree with everyone concluding no one else coulda been up there, just cos of what the skier guy said.

It's possible someone else was out hiking, but IMO not probable. Not just because of the skier, but also because of the time of year, the time of day, the lockdowns, etc. But I agree nothing can be ruled out at this point.

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

Deleted because I'm confused now and probably wrong.

 

[Ruthbullock]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed by member>

It’s been a long long time since I’ve hiked and I have not ever hiked the Pyrenees but I have climbed scree many a time where the path isn’t clear and even well placed feet can slip (particularly with a weight in your back), although on the same score I feel sure they would have at least checked that specific lake. Thanks for clarifying which way she was coming though.

 

[stmarysmead]

The photos posted show the spectacular beauty of the mountains, but they are also terrifying. Alone, late on a November afternoon, even a minor mishap might have left her in pain and disoriented as night fell. She might have fallen, been knocked out for a bit, come to in pain...and been unable in the dark to find her way to the refuge. She might have staggered anywhere.

And even if the initial accident was minor...it was almost three days before she was reported missing.

All the aspects of hiking that area...alone...during the Pandemic...the solitude, the rugged terrain that afforded a sense of achievement, the freedom and independence ...all those aspects that she found most appealing...are also the same ones that left her most vulnerable...even if the initial “problem” was relatively minor.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Here is an account of the route up Pic de Sauvegarde:

Pyrenees

"The descent from the summit is the same as the way up, including the traverse using the cable, whic is not that scary on the way back. " (go to page 2, post 21)

Combined with the maps showing Sauvegarde as an offshoot of the loop, it seems clear that there is one path up and down, rather than being able to go up and over. Esther did not have to climb Sauvegarde to get where she was going, it was an optional activity on the route.

It also makes sense that the Olympian knew that there was nobody else up there as he would be able to see any other hikers descending behind him, and he had not passed anyone else going up as he was walking down.

 

[patCee]

Here is an account of the route up Pic de Sauvegarde:

http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?PHPSESSID=1nomoddq3ten8ce58pf00n6qt4&topic=40054.15

"The descent from the summit is the same as the way up, including the traverse using the cable, whic is not that scary on the way back. "

Combined with the maps showing Sauvegarde as an offshoot of the loop, it seems clear that there is one path up and down, rather than being able to go up and over. Esther did not have to climb Sauvegarde to get where she was going, it was an optional activity on the route.

It also makes sense that the Olympian knew that there was nobody else up there as he would be able to see any other hikers descending behind him, and he had not passed anyone else going up as he was walking down.

I'm just getting an error message on your link.

 

[Ruthbullock]

I'm just getting an error message on your link.

Pyrenees Post 9

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I'm just getting an error message on your link.

Oops, try again, I've edited it

 

[Ruthbullock]

Pyrenees
page 2 reply 21 states there is only one way up and down to the summit

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Pyrenees Post 9

But bear in mind Esther didn't start where this guy started. She set off from the opposite side of the loop.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Pyrenees
page 2 reply 21 states there is only one way up and down to the summit

Yes, and the maps make this clear. So I'm really confused why people are saying there was more than one route and therefore someone could have approached her from the other side.

Are we just all really confused?

 

[Ruthbullock]

Right second stupid question of the evening, because I’m trying to clarify in my head. Is this the summit she had posted from the day before as well?

 

[ZaZara]

Right second stupid question of the evening, because I’m trying to clarify in my head. Is this the summit she had posted from the day before as well?

Yes. She was there twice.

 

[Ruthbullock]

Yes. She was there twice.

Thank you

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

This link to a map was posted up thread...
http://www.senderioja.es/rutas-en-o...19-salvaguardia-desde-los-llanos-del-hospital

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Right second stupid question of the evening, because I’m trying to clarify in my head. Is this the summit she had posted from the day before as well?

Yes. Climbed it twice in two days. Unfathomable to me (but I'd happily go and lie on the same beach several days running!)