Found Deceased Spain - Esther Dingley, from UK, missing in the Pyrenees, November 2020 #5

[Skigh]

IMO, assuming an accident, one of the possibilities is that vultures got hold of the remains at a certain moment. There are many vultures in the Pyrenees (3 types: Vulture, Griffon vulture, Bearded Vulture). If they did, chances of finding an entire skeleton or many bones are small. Don't know enough about those huge birds to say with certainty that this may have happened between Monday and Thursday when the searches started, but it could be an explanation why nothing was found when the area was searched at the time.

This is all speculation.

Are there any other predators such as bears or wolves in the area of the mountain where the discovery has just been made?

 

[annpats]

Hi @annpats.
I agree, but can also imagine animals and birds would help the decay.

And here is ZaZara's post that may answer your last question.

That's brilliant, @RedHaus.
Thank you.

 

[RedHaus]

Are there any other predators such as bears or wolves in the area of the mountain where the discovery has just been made?

Well, yes, @Skigh... There is a FB post of ED asking if a print in the snow was a bear's. Some here were skeptical if it was. But nonetheless, there was some MSM coverage of that little detail, which was dismissed by wildlife experts who monitor bears in the area (geolocators). They claim no bears were in the vicinity where ED was. But if the skull is not ED's remains, but some other poor soul's, then perhaps a bear was involved with their demise at that time, whenever that was.... Not sure about wolves.

 

[Sera]

Sources close to the investigation indicated that the skull could correspond to Esther Maria Dingley due to the colour and length of the hair. At 6 p.m. the French gendarmerie arrived and took charge of the case.

Unfortunately I have a strong feeling that these bones will be found to be ED's. If the quote about the skull/hair is to be believed, how many other missing women are there in that area with the same hair length and colour as ED? Very sad if it turns out to be her but I hope that, if it is, Dan will be able to put her to rest.

 

[Skigh]

Police searching for missing British hiker Esther Dingley find bones near site of last contact | Daily Mail Online

 

[tarabull]

Not very hard to believe...

 

[Grouse]

RIP to whoever it is, Esther Dingley or not, very sad.

 

[Shiningstar]

Due to the hair match IMO its likely her, at least her loved ones can have some closure if it is her.

 

[RickshawFan]

Google Earth is the application version of Google Maps and perhaps uses the same satellite imagery but on Google Earth it is easier to pan, scan and zoom at various angles.

Here's a couple of pics. The first shows the general terrain around La Besurta hut (centre). The second shows a rocky gully a couple of hundred meters away from the hut (top left) which might be a likely place. Presumably the area was searched in the beginning, but maybe at that point they were looking for visible presence and not for something concealed/buried.
View attachment 305671 View attachment 305672

@RedHaus Didn't we have some photos a while back that were attached to trail descriptions? Maybe @Tortoise found them? We had a lot of photos of the cabane area taken by hikers.

 

[RickshawFan]

If they have found Esther, would it not be probably that her possessions would be near to her body or that some clothing remains are found which could give an indication whether it is likely to be her?

I would have thought that dental or DNA from her bones would be a relative quick procedure.

Animals may have carried off debris for nesting materials, etc. The pack has metal stays, but most everything else is edible!

 

[Skigh]

Animals may have carried off debris for nesting materials, etc. The pack has metal stays, but most everything else is edible!

would not her back pack be made of non edible or biodegradable material.Like wise her clothing and shoes. Did she have walking poles(not sure what the technical term is) ?

 

[ZaZara]

Francia investiga unos huesos localizados en el lugar donde desapareció la montañera inglesa

The French gendarmerie is investigating human remains found on the mountain route where the English hiker Esther Dingley, 37 years of age, disappeared. She has been unaccounted for since 22 November 2020. Sources from the Huesca Command have indicated that the Guardia Civil received a tip-off at around 14.00 from a mountain runner who came across what appeared to be the remains of a person's corpse.

A patrol from the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (Greim) of Benasque went to the location, but on seeing that it was in French territory, they left the case in the hands of the French authorities.

The discovery has taken place in the Glera pass, on the route where Dingley disappeared. For the moment, this location is the only clue that points to the English hiker. From now on, the investigations will be carried out by the French Gendarmerie, according to the Guardia Civil. Gendarmerie sources indicated that it will still be necessary to wait until the identity of the remains is confirmed. No details have been given as to whether there were any clothes, belongings or documents that might give clues as to the identity of the remains.

The Guardia Civil has already pointed to the possibility that the increased frequency of visits to the mountain in the summer could lead to clues being found. In addition, this weekend Benasque is being visited by hundreds of mountain runners taking part in the various races of the Gran Trail Aneto-Posets.


BBM

 

[ZaZara]

Are there any other predators such as bears or wolves in the area of the mountain where the discovery has just been made?

There are bears and wolves in the Pyrenees region, but the area of Puerto de la Glera is open and rocky, and above the tree line. Bears and wolves search for food in the lower regions of the mountains where they also find cover.

Puerto de la Glera, picture from Wikiloc:

Another picture, from Puerto de la Glera o de Gorgutes - los raritos del camino

 

[RedHaus]

There are bears and wolves in the Pyrenees region, but the area of Puerto de la Glera is open and rocky, and above the tree line. Bears and wolves search for food in the lower regions of the mountains where they also find cover.

Puerto de la Glera, picture from Wikiloc:

Another picture, from Puerto de la Glera o de Gorgutes - los raritos del camino

It certainly is beautiful there @ZaZara! Is that Maladeta Glacier in the distance of the first image? ED once commented on FB how glaciers were mystical to her.

 

[ZaZara]

It certainly is beautiful there @ZaZara! Is that Maladeta Glacier in the distance of the first image? ED once commented on FB how glaciers were mystical to her.

I think it is, indeed. If you follow the link of the second picture, you'll find a blog (in Spanish) with more pictures, among them pictures of the Maladeta as seen from the direction of the Puerto de la Glera.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Sad news, but hopefully this mystery will be put to rest soon. Thoughts with Esther’s loved ones

 

[RedHaus]

A new press piece. 7m ago. But no new information. Agony for the family...

Esther Dingley family call for clarity after claim human remains found in Pyrenees | UK news | The Guardian

 

[Federico_A]

There are lammergeiers (bearded vultures) around there which are famed for picking up bones and dropping them from a height onto rocks to break them open - I've seen them do that in the Pyrenees. I guess they could carry them some distance to do so - perhaps they have a favourite bone-breaking spot - usually a rocky slope at high altitude. If only a few bones were found, I would guess that's what happened and the rest of the body (and equipment) could still be anywhere within a radius of a kilometer or so. In fact, these birds eat nothing but bones, so there may be little left by now.

Edit: on reflection, I guess a kilometer is nothing to a vulture and the radius may be far greater.

 

[Rush4087]

So if the bones are ED, I guess we can assume she left the Pic on the 22nd at a little after 4:00 pm; then hiked down the ridge to Port de Vanasque where she crossed from Spain into France. She then went to Refuge de Vasque where she probably spent the night of the 22nd in the winter room.

Her next day’s hike (on the 23rd) would’ve been from Refuge de Venasque to Porte de la Glere. I’m no expert on topo maps, but it looks like that trail is pretty challenging with several very steep sections (and, it looks like it is maybe most dangerous at the end).

It still doesn’t tell us what happened to ED. It only tells us where. Very sad for Esther and Dan and their families

 

[Tortoise]

So if the bones are ED, I guess we can assume she left the Pic on the 22nd at a little after 4:00 pm; then hiked down the ridge to Port de Vanasque where she crossed from Spain into France. She then went to Refuge de Vasque where she probably spent the night of the 22nd in the winter room.

Her next day’s hike (on the 23rd) would’ve been from Refuge de Venasque to Porte de la Glere. I’m no expert on topo maps, but it looks like that trail is pretty challenging with several very steep sections (and, it looks like it is maybe most dangerous at the end).

It still doesn’t tell us what happened to ED. It only tells us where. Very sad for Esther and Dan and their families

Is it possible she approached from the Spanish side that same afternoon/evening? I don't know what route that would have involved but I'm just thinking about the lack of communication with anyone after the 22nd when DC said the cell service around Venasque was good. I thought she might at least have uploaded some photos of the lakes the next morning if she hiked the route DC thought she was going to take, or made some sort of log of her evening and thoughts the next day, or been seen by other hikers.