Found Deceased Spain - Esther Dingley, from UK, missing in the Pyrenees, November 2020 #3

[Seni]

I'm not sure I get this, since Esther's name doesn't begin with 's'. The "th" might create some phonological confusion to a native Spanish speaker, however, because we pronounce the "th" as "t" (likely to transliterate the Hebrew, perhaps via a Greek translation of the Hebrew with theta transliterated as "t" with an aspirate, and the aspirate dropped in the course of history or because our tongues are lazy and couldn't handle it all). And if the Spaniard happens to be a Castilian, wish them luck; at utterance, the layers of language might be head-spinning.
No worries, Esther is pronounced in the neighborhood of the Spanish word este with an -r on the end, as in éster or the name Ester. No biggie.
I would guess, simply, someone made a mistake.

Totally agree. There are many "Estelas" used as common first name.

And look at "Stephen" - Esteban.

There are even diminutives for "Ester" en español.

Agree that it was a not very serious mistake.

 

[otto]

I disagree with your interpretation, as per my comment above about the meaning of 'dipping into France', as being more than technically crossing the border.

Also, if you travel you discover the internet is frequently unreliable in terms of just about everything. Especially with Covid 19, previous arrangements may have been cancelled, with no one bothering to update web pages. I too would worry about what I might encounter when heading off on my own to stay overnight in the middle of nowhere, with cold weather coming on.

IMO she was feeling nervous, and expressing that.

What do you make of this? Does it seem to be written by a solo mountain climber who is aware of the location and features of the Refuge de Venasque?

"16:06: “Still in the same area. Tomorrow heading for Port de le Glere or something spelt like that. Might dip into France. Hoping Refuge Venasque has a winter room. Keep you posted when can xx”​

 

[RickshawFan]

Totally agree. There are many "Estelas" used as common first name.

And look at "Stephen" - Esteban.

There are even diminutives for "Ester" en español.

Agree that it was a not very serious mistake.

Great examples. I forgot about those!

 

[Seni]

Given the posts alluding to possible naive attitude on the part of ED especially with regard to requests for food, one thing we do know is that she has been with Dan since she was 18.

That in modern times is pretty rare.

I am not poking into anything in particular, other than maybe she needed a change, a break, wanted a child..

am just supposing.

And how does she go about leaving this supposedly idyllic life they have built?

All in my imagination and IMO

 

[Satchie]

What do you make of this? Does it seem to be written by a solo mountain climber who is aware of the location and features of the Refuge de Venasque?

"16:06: “Still in the same area. Tomorrow heading for Port de le Glere or something spelt like that. Might dip into France. Hoping Refuge Venasque has a winter room. Keep you posted when can xx”​

I would point out it is a text message to a very long-term intimate partner, not an essay written to satisfy suspicious strangers reading it on the internet.

<modsnip>

 

[Sillybilly]

Posts have been removed.

Stop the bickering and personalizing in this discussion or TOs will be issued.

 

[RedHaus]

I will not be surprised if we learn ED is alive and with the hiker who gave her a lift on November 19th.

Hi Puzzles. I sure hope you are right! The lack of communication for 2 months with family and friends, from someone so caring as ED, is odd and may not fit well with your theory. That said, we know LE connected with the 19/11 hiker who gave ED a ride back to her van, but we don't know what LE learned from their interactions and time together - and if they communicated afterwards. To know more about ED's state of mind three days before her final contact with DC would be invaluable.

For ED to voluntarily disappear with the hiker (or someone else) and leave her life behind would take some planning of course. And perhaps that is what ED did during 20/11 - she had made her decision and needed to get a plan together. If we continue that thinking, perhaps the plan was to meet up with someone on 22/11 at the Refuge de Vanesque. Since there is no cell service there, perhaps ED planned to summit Pic de Sauvegarde to see her friend arrive at the refuge on 22/11 (and they to see her).

So on 21/11 - taking this theory further - ED might have hiked up the col as reconnaissance so she would know how long it would take, to minimize anxieties about the new trail, check cell service, etc. That could be why she simply descended 21/11 afternoon to stay at Cabana de la Besurta for the night (or more likely, back at her van in Banasque since she hadn't planned to summit again until late the following day). In this scenario, my guess is ED went back to her van. And if this scenario is at all real, then on 22/11 ED could have told DC she stayed at the Cabana since that would be more in line with her stated hiking plans (and her van was ~ 9 miles away).

Then on 22/11 - taking this theory further - ED hikes up to the summit from her van. When she encountered the skier at ~3pm she was hungry or thirsty from hiking several hours and was hoping for something fresh to eat. That kind of makes more sense if she was hiking from her van that day and not from the Cabana at the trail head. And as RickshawFan has opined, ED could have left her "heavy pack" (was it extra heavy that day if it had all her possessions?) at the Port de Vanasque and hiked up to the summit light. Then, at the summit, ED caught up with DC's texts from 21-22/11 (perhaps she was ignoring them), connected with family and communicated with DC.

ED might have planned to do all that communicating on 22/11 before meeting up with someone - in essence saying good-bye. It could also explain the vagueness of information ED conveyed to DC in her texts (e.g. "winter room"). It could explain what I first interpreted as ambivalence to get going if she was waiting for someone. And it could explain ED's joy that DC recounted, if she was making a break from a life that made her unhappy. Then after the final communication (that oddly brief WhatsApp video chat with DC) maybe ED saw the person she was to meet arrive at the Refuge, and she descends through the Port de Vanesque to meet him (or her).

From there, who knows. I suspect they could have continued on towards Hospice de France that evening and bivouaced in the valley. And perhaps that person she was meeting was planning to bring food provisions for them and that may be why ED was looking for fruit at 3pm - she had little food with her. And in this scenario, I think they could have hiked together around the 'loop' the 19/11 hiker told ED about and exited the trail beyond Port de Glere where the hiker may have come from on 22/11.

The third party ED might have been with could have had a car parked at the Hotel Hospital de Banasque and off they went to wherever ED is now... alive hopefully!

OK, this is A LOT of theory - suspended reality if you may! And a bit of wishful thinking. But I thought I'd throw it out as an attempt to fit the data (including no sign of ED) to a voluntary disappearance scenario. However, for this to to be a viable theory, we'd have to accept ED was capable of deceiving DC and her family... can we?

 

[otto]

Hi Puzzles. I sure hope you are right! The lack of communication for 2 months with family and friends, from someone so caring as ED, is odd and may not fit well with your theory. That said, we know LE connected with the 19/11 hiker who gave ED a ride back to her van, but we don't know what LE learned from their interactions and time together - and if they communicated afterwards. To know more about ED's state of mind three days before her final contact with DC would be invaluable.

For ED to voluntarily disappear with the hiker (or someone else) and leave her life behind would take some planning of course. And perhaps that is what ED did during 20/11 - she had made her decision and needed to get a plan together. If we continue that thinking, perhaps the plan was to meet up with someone on 22/11 at the Refuge de Vanesque. Since there is no cell service there, perhaps ED planned to summit Pic de Sauvegarde to see her friend arrive at the refuge on 22/11 (and they to see her).

So on 21/11 - taking this theory further - ED might have hiked up the col as reconnaissance so she would know how long it would take, to minimize anxieties about the new trail, check cell service, etc. That could be why she simply descended 21/11 afternoon to stay at Cabana de la Besurta for the night (or more likely, back at her van in Banasque since she hadn't planned to summit again until late the following day). In this scenario, my guess is ED went back to her van. And if this scenario is at all real, then on 22/11 ED could have told DC she stayed at the Cabana since that would be more in line with her stated hiking plans (and her van was ~ 9 miles away).

Then on 22/11 - taking this theory further - ED hikes up to the summit from her van. When she encountered the skier at ~3pm she was hungry or thirsty from hiking several hours and was hoping for something fresh to eat. That kind of makes more sense if she was hiking from her van that day and not from the Cabana at the trail head. And as RickshawFan has opined, ED could have left her "heavy pack" (was it extra heavy that day if it had all her possessions?) at the Port de Vanasque and hiked up to the summit light. Then, at the summit, ED caught up with DC's texts from 21-22/11 (perhaps she was ignoring them), connected with family and communicated with DC.

ED might have planned to do all that communicating on 22/11 before meeting up with someone - in essence saying good-bye. It could also explain the vagueness of information ED conveyed to DC in her texts (e.g. "winter room"). It could explain what I first interpreted as ambivalence to get going if she was waiting for someone. And it could explain ED's joy that DC recounted, if she was making a break from a life that made her unhappy. Then after the final communication (that oddly brief WhatsApp video chat with DC) maybe ED saw the person she was to meet arrive at the Refuge, and she descends through the Port de Vanesque to meet him (or her).

From there, who knows. I suspect they could have continued on towards Hospice de France that evening and bivouaced in the valley. And perhaps that person she was meeting was planning to bring food provisions for them and that may be why ED was looking for fruit at 3pm - she had little food with her. And in this scenario, I think they could have hiked together around the 'loop' the 19/11 hiker told ED about and exited the trail beyond Port de Glere where the hiker may have come from on 22/11.

The third party ED might have been with could have had a car parked at the Hotel Hospital de Banasque and off they went to wherever ED is now... alive hopefully!

OK, this is A LOT of theory - suspended reality if you may! And a bit of wishful thinking. But I thought I'd throw it out as an attempt to fit the data (including no sign of ED) to a voluntary disappearance scenario. However, for this to to be a viable theory, we'd have to accept ED was capable of deceiving DC and her family... can we?

That makes a lot of sense, and it is something I wondered about in the beginning - whether she was meeting someone at the Refuge de Venasque who was climbing from Hospice de France.

Put these two maps together and they meet in the middle.

The person I suspected when I considered the idea was the man she met on Nov 19, however this person has come forward and did share the fact that he recommended the Port de Venasque to Port de la Glere route. This is not a route that Esther had on her bucket list, but rather a suggestion from stranger 2 days earlier.

Excluding him, that leaves online dating in the Pyrenees and strangers, which seems unlikely.

It does explain her unusual timing - you describe a kind of hesitancy and I agree. That's one interpretation for the timeline.

 

[Puzzles]

Hi RedHaus, you've expressed so clearly the events that led to my consideration that ED is alive and with the hiker.
The idea was seeded in my mind when we were given no information about what the authorities learned when they interviewed the hiker. We were not even told his name.

That seemed odd, especially because we were given details of her conversation with Ballarin, the man who gave her a ride in his car on November 21.

Also, IMO, if ED is known to be safe, it's a likely explanation as to why we had no information following the meeting French and Spanish authorities had to determine their next steps, nor any other update from the media.

It is possible her family has been notified of her safety by LE.
It may never be revealed to us.

 

[otto]

If Esther had been found alive, there would not be recent articles about her disappearance.

Monday January 18 2021

Missing hiker Esther Dingley had relationship problems, witness tells police | News | The Times

 

[Rush4087]

I believe ED's disappearance was a suicide. I think she identified a majestic final resting spot in the Pyrenees while on her way down from the Pic de Sauvegarde on the afternoon of the 21st and on the morning of the 22nd. I do not think she wants her body to ever be found or recovered. Jmo.

I have listed several reasons below for why I think this may have happened (some of the reasons are in the form of a question). Again, all JMO. No item is intended to be an either/or proposition.

I also realize that any single reason alone might also apply in other "disappearance scenarios" - such as an accident/fall or foul play. I did not mention voluntary disappearance (off grid, or ran off to start a new life), and accidental shooting by hunters, as I think theses scenario are much less likely (jmo). It is rather the aggregate sum of the reasons listed (the preponderance of the evidence - a kind of a Bayesian probability approach) that has me convinced:

- Why did ED go back up the Pic again? There was no reason she didn't just continue on to the Refuge on the 21st (she certainly had more time then, than she had the 22nd)?

- What was she doing between summiting the Pic at around 1::30 pm on the 21st and when she returned at 3:30 pm on the 22nd? The hike distances were short. Was she scouting and preparing a spot?

- Why did she go up so late in the day on the 22nd, arriving a 3:30 pm and leaving at 4:10 pm - when she had so little daylight left to make it to Port Venasque and on to Refuge de Venasque? Was she ever really planning to go through Port de Venasque?

- Why (at the top) was it so important to her to let DC know happy she was? Even when someone seems happy, they rarely say over an over - especially on a text (I know, there are surely exceptions). And why so many xxx's? And thanks. And..

-Why the FaceTime call after there already had been so much other communication over the preceding half hour?

- Why did she speak to her parents/family as well? Was that normal? Pre-arranged? Did she contact them from every Pic, Refuge, Col, Hospice, hike, etc.? Just wondering. Or was she, this time - in some way - saying "I love you" for the last time? Saying "goodbye", saying "I'm happy" and "it's not your fault"?

- Why did she text/exclaim (at least twice) to Dan when referencing the mountains and towns seen in the background of the vids/photos taken as she stood atop the Pic that: "I think I can can you" or "I can see you"? Could this possibly be because she woukdve also been aware, sub-consciously, of the feeling that - if she could see him, he could see her - and that she was worried that he might see - or sense - or feel - or in some way know - what she was maybe about to do? (all speculation)

- Why did she linger on top even when she should have been concerned about getting to the Refuge before dark. Even when she'd just been up top the day before? Yet she stayed at the Pic - to take it all in.

- Why did she seem to forewarn DC so many times that she was about to be out of cell signal range? Instead of this being a pre-excuse as to why she might not be able to contact DC, perhaps it was her way of making sure that DC didn't try to contact her for the next 8-10 hrs (and after that, she'd really out of range). She put the phone in airplane mode.

- Was ED wearing make up and her best gear the afternoon of the 22nd (only DC would know). Some will think that's a ridiculous or meaningless question, but I think it's a worthwhile one to ask)

- Why did she bring so little food? Was this perhaps because she was not expecting to ever need it?

- Why did she seem uncertain (almost casual) about whether there was even a winter room at Rescue Venasque? Wouldn't this information have been of extreme importantance to her?

Why was she so unbothered and nonchalant about not knowing how to spell Port de la Glere? This does not seem like her. Was she thinking that she would likely never be going to that place?

- There's no evidence that she was at Refuge de Venasque. Did she ever plan to go there?

- Why did she have such a blasé attitude about whether she might dip into France or not? Not that there's anything wrong with having uncertain/spontaneous plans - but this comment to me sounded somewhat apathetic.

- ED had been by herself now for quite some time. Alone and lonely, I imagine. She admitted she was going through a tough time just before leaving to go on the solo trip, and acknowledged that she needed to do some soul searching. She was crying while running and listening to the same song over and over. It was a song about life.

ED had been seriously depressed before. Covid was here, and the excursion lifestyle might be ending. The witness in the store (albeit in a short encounter) described her as sad. It's weird what people pick up on.. Isolation can lead to loneliness and depression. Being alone can sometimes give you too much time to think. It does me.

- She disappeared at the very end of this soul searching journey/trek. She was due to return in just two days. IF (if) she had been contemplating suicide on the trip, she realistically would've only had one day left on which to do so. She was atop Pic de Sauvegarde.

- If there had been an accident, I think they would have found evidence of it by now. I don't think ED's been found because I don't think she wanted to be found. I think she is in a beautiful, serene, majestic spot in the Pyrenees - one that is perhaps way off trail, and very hidden.

All just my opinion.

I pray for DC and for ED's family. No matter what has happened, it is a great loss, and it is incredibly sad.

 

[PeggyHenry]

I believe ED's disappearance was a suicide. I think she identified a majestic final resting spot in the Pyrenees while on her way down from the Pic de Sauvegarde on the afternoon of the 21st and on the morning of the 22nd. I do not think she wants her body to ever be found or recovered. Jmo.

I have listed several reasons below for why I think this may have happened (some of the reasons are in the form of a question). Again, all JMO. No item is intended to be an either/or proposition.

I also realize that any single reason alone might also apply in other "disappearance scenarios" - such as an accident/fall or foul play. I did not mention voluntary disappearance (off grid, or ran off to start a new life), and accidental shooting by hunters, as I think theses scenario are much less likely (jmo). It is rather the aggregate sum of the reasons listed (the preponderance of the evidence - a kind of a Bayesian probability approach) that has me convinced:

- Why did ED go back up the Pic again? There was no reason she didn't just continue on to the Refuge on the 21st (she certainly had more time then, than she had the 22nd)?

- What was she doing between summiting the Pic at around 1::30 pm on the 21st and when she returned at 3:30 pm on the 22nd? The hike distances were short. Was she scouting and preparing a spot?

- Why did she go up so late in the day on the 22nd, arriving a 3:30 pm and leaving at 4:10 pm - when she had so little daylight left to make it to Port Venasque and on to Refuge de Venasque? Was she ever really planning to go through Port de Venasque?

- Why (at the top) was it so important to her to let DC know happy she was? Even when someone seems happy, they rarely say over an over - especially on a text (I know, there are surely exceptions). And why so many xxx's? And thanks. And..

-Why the FaceTime call after there already had been so much other communication over the preceding half hour?

- Why did she speak to her parents/family as well? Was that normal? Pre-arranged? Did she contact them from every Pic, Refuge, Col, Hospice, hike, etc.? Just wondering. Or was she, this time - in some way - saying "I love you" for the last time? Saying "goodbye", saying "I'm happy" and "it's not your fault"?

- Why did she text/exclaim (at least twice) to Dan when referencing the mountains and towns seen in the background of the vids/photos taken as she stood atop the Pic that: "I think I can can you" or "I can see you"? Could this possibly be because she woukdve also been aware, sub-consciously, of the feeling that - if she could see him, he could see her - and that she was worried that he might see - or sense - or feel - or in some way know - what she was maybe about to do? (all speculation)

- Why did she linger on top even when she should have been concerned about getting to the Refuge before dark. Even when she'd just been up top the day before? Yet she stayed at the Pic - to take it all in.

- Why did she seem to forewarn DC so many times that she was about to be out of cell signal range? Instead of this being a pre-excuse as to why she might not be able to contact DC, perhaps it was her way of making sure that DC didn't try to contact her for the next 8-10 hrs (and after that, she'd really out of range). She put the phone in airplane mode.

- Was ED wearing make up and her best gear the afternoon of the 22nd (only DC would know). Some will think that's a ridiculous or meaningless question, but I think it's a worthwhile one to ask)

- Why did she bring so little food? Was this perhaps because she was not expecting to ever need it?

- Why did she seem uncertain (almost casual) about whether there was even a winter room at Rescue Venasque? Wouldn't this information have been of extreme importantance to her?

Why was she so unbothered and nonchalant about not knowing how to spell Port de la Glere? This does not seem like her. Was she thinking that she would likely never be going to that place?

- There's no evidence that she was at Refuge de Venasque. Did she ever plan to go there?

- Why did she have such a blasé attitude about whether she might dip into France or not? Not that there's anything wrong with having uncertain/spontaneous plans - but this comment to me sounded somewhat apathetic.

- ED had been by herself now for quite some time. Alone and lonely, I imagine. She admitted she was going through a tough time just before leaving to go on the solo trip, and acknowledged that she needed to do some soul searching. She was crying while running and listening to the same song over and over. It was a song about life.

ED had been seriously depressed before. Covid was here, and the excursion lifestyle might be ending. The witness in the store (albeit in a short encounter) described her as sad. It's weird what people pick up on.. Isolation can lead to loneliness and depression. Being alone can sometimes give you too much time to think. It does me.

- She disappeared at the very end of this soul searching journey/trek. She was due to return in just two days. IF (if) she had been contemplating suicide on the trip, she realistically would've only had one day left on which to do so. She was atop Pic de Sauvegarde.

- If there had been an accident, I think they would have found evidence of it by now. I don't think ED's been found because I don't think she wanted to be found. I think she is in a beautiful, serene, majestic spot in the Pyrenees - one that is perhaps way off trail, and very hidden.

All just my opinion.

I pray for DC and for ED's family. No matter what has happened, it is a great loss, and it is incredibly sad.

A thought provoking post with much to back up your suggestion. I don’t share your view ( perhaps because I don’t want to) but it is certainly a possible explanation.

One of the points that you raise is the content of Esther’s text messages to DC; I have always thought that the messages are strangely ‘over the top’with love and kisses. How do I explain what I mean? The day before she is ‘missing’ she is declaring her love and how she misses him. Is it a coincidence? ...because let’s say she had not gone missing, then presumably she is declaring love for him every day? Let’s say she had a premonition that something was going to happen to her on 23rd, then yes, I can imagine her telling DC how much she loves him.. but if 22nd was a normal day and she knew she would be back home before too long then I would not expect such messages. I understand that for me the messages are not normal but for others they may be perfectly normal. Some are quite gushing in terms of expressing love whereas others are less so. In other words, something has triggered a need in Esther to reassure DC of her love for him. Unless, she didn’t in fact, write those messages.

 

[patCee]

One indicator of back country travel, particularly when a hiker is missing, is sign-in and payment at back country hostels. No sign-in and no payment means that she did not arrive at the Refuge de Venasque. Covid does not mean that overnight accommodations are free - everyone knows that.

BBM

From DCs info pack:
It is not known whether Esther spent the night of the 22nd November in Refuge Venasque (as planned) or not. Dan stayed there himself for 2 nights while searching the area and reported that there is no sign of anybody having been there - it's a bland/bare room with eight rough bunks/mattresses, a table and no sign-in book.

Just saying.......

 

[Grouse]

<snipped for focus>
One of the points that you raise is the content of Esther’s text messages to DC; I have always thought that the messages are strangely ‘over the top’with love and kisses.

I'm not sure, without knowing what their normal messaging pattern was, if it's possible to say what is strange. We only (and quite rightly) have a small selection of this very personal information in the dossier. Everyone is different. I've worked with people who exchange many, many phone calls every day with their partners, and express their love for all to hear in the office at the end of every call. That seemed strange to me, but it was their normal.

 

[stmarysmead]

Grouse had a good point about communications between partners. But something occurred to me today looking at the last exchanges. Of the 40 minutes of time she spent on the Pic...let’s look at how much she spent of that time communicating with Dan:

15:29 – Returns to Pic de Sauvegarde
15:31 – “Not much signal in this area sorry”
“I’m on a col/peak so can’t stop for too long but wanted you to know. Can’t wait to read all your messages. Thank you xxx.
“Love you very much XXX having a really good time.”
15:41 – Sends 2 selfies.
16:04: “I’m heading off now...Maybe have signal but not sure. Sorry. I think I can see you !!!”
16:06: “Still in the same area. Tomorrow heading for Port de le Glere or something spelt like that. Might dip into France. Hoping Refuge Venasque has a winter room. Keep you posted when can xx”
“Love you xxx”
16:07 – Video Call with Dan lasting for 1:36


Her first words to him are that she can’t ‘stop for too long”...could this be an excuse to avoid a longer conversation? Because she actually spends almost 40 minutes there. At this point, it appears he had not heard from her in over twenty four hours. It appears that he may not have even known where she’d been or where or how she’d spent the night. IMO, it curious that she wouldn’t have wanted to share more of her “adventures” with him.

‘IMO, these interactions sound terse and meant to pacify. Did he just receive three texts and a very short video call (perhsps initiated by him)...in almost 40 minutes of available communication time?

Dan is not 0nly her domestic partner but her trekking partner...I’d think she’d be bubbling with things to tell him. I will admit though that this might be normal for them...but coupled with statements she made and others have revealed, IMO they could be another hint as to Esther’s state of mind.

Some great posts upthread, by the way, on alternative theories.

 

[RickshawFan]

BBM

From DCs info pack:
It is not known whether Esther spent the night of the 22nd November in Refuge Venasque (as planned) or not. Dan stayed there himself for 2 nights while searching the area and reported that there is no sign of anybody having been there - it's a bland/bare room with eight rough bunks/mattresses, a table and no sign-in book.

Just saying.......

I think this is a very odd thing for the dossier to say. What signs would there be?
1. If ED was there, it was too many days later to find any signs in the Refuge. Someone else could have stayed there in the meantime—which would mess up "signs"—and how would you know when a dip in a bunk mattress was made?
2. There could be a lack of "signs" either because you were super-persnickety about "leave no trace" protocols or you didn't want to pay so you went out of your way to "leave no trace".
3. If DC spent 2 nights in the Refuge, that would indeed erase "signs" of anyone who came before. Any search for "signs" in those 2 days would almost certainly disturb even crumbs from previous visitors, not to mention muddy footprints with distinctive sole patterns.

LE probably took the sign-in book before DC got there. It's an obvious item for them to take: no point in letting someone else add their signature and destroying "evidence."

 

[patCee]

I think this is a very odd thing for the dossier to say. What signs would there be?
1. If ED was there, it was too many days later to find any signs in the Refuge. Someone else could have stayed there in the meantime—which would mess up "signs"—and how would you know when a dip in a bunk mattress was made?
2. There could be a lack of "signs" either because you were super-persnickety about "leave no trace" protocols or you didn't want to pay so you went out of your way to "leave no trace".
3. If DC spent 2 nights in the Refuge, that would indeed erase "signs" of anyone who came before. Any search for "signs" in those 2 days would almost certainly disturb even crumbs from previous visitors, not to mention muddy footprints with distinctive sole patterns.

LE probably took the sign-in book before DC got there. It's an obvious item for them to take: no point in letting someone else add their signature and destroying "evidence."

All good points that cause me surprise that LE supported his (understandable) decision to search at the same time. I believe they communicated with each other during the search but LE are the experts re any propitious signs. Too late once they're trampled over.

 

[Grouse]

<snipped for focus and BBM>
Her first words to him are that she can’t ‘stop for too long”...could this be an excuse to avoid a longer conversation? Because she actually spends almost 40 minutes there. At this point, it appears he had not heard from her in over twenty four hours.

I have to say IME 40 minutes seems a long time to spend up there, especially when there is a need to press on to ensure shelter for the night. At the top of a snowy peak in winter (or even in summer if it's somewhere like Ben Nevis) I would usually spend 20 minutes max - have something to eat , savour the view, maybe take photos, and then get moving again as I find I soon start to cool down after the ascent.

However, that said, ED may simply have lingered because they hadn't spoken for 24 hours and she didn't know when they next would (it was only DC who discovered later she would have had signal again soon after leaving the refuge).

 

[Grouse]

ED could have left her "heavy pack" (was it extra heavy that day if it had all her possessions?) at the Port de Vanasque and hiked up to the summit light.
<snipped for focus>

Hi RedHaus, sorry I can't go with that theory I'm afraid. Her missing possessions would surely have been apparent when LE searched the van and would have sent the investigation in a different direction. And to disappear voluntarily and leave all your stuff, and not let your family know? I know that sometimes can happen but seems very unlikely in this case IMO.

 

[otto]

BBM

From DCs info pack:
It is not known whether Esther spent the night of the 22nd November in Refuge Venasque (as planned) or not. Dan stayed there himself for 2 nights while searching the area and reported that there is no sign of anybody having been there - it's a bland/bare room with eight rough bunks/mattresses, a table and no sign-in book.

Just saying.......

I suppose we have to ask whether the refuge website, or a guest, have accurate information about the refuge.

Police were searching for a missing person and would collect evidence from places she might have been. Others who typically hiked the area might have information. The sign-in book, which is described on the website, was perhaps collected by police as information that could assist in locating her.

"During unguarded [Winter] periods, all the FFCAM shelters keep an accessible and open part, “the winter refuge”, in order to play their role of shelter and rescue.

The use of the “winter” part has been modified in order to contribute to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. To use this space, you must bring your sleeping bag, kitchen equipment, your masks and hand gel. Wearing a mask is compulsory, in this place and in the presence of several people, as well as respect for barrier gestures. An attendance book in the winter refuge is to be completed upon your arrival.

You will be able to safely enjoy the FFCAM shelters, without forgetting to pay your overnight stay, which is essential to maintain the services offered."​

Accueil, Refuge de Vénasque