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

[RickshawFan]

Boyfriend of Esther Dingley says mountain pass where bones were found was 'within her capabilities' | Daily Mail Online

There are many trails in the universe that someone fit could manage well (this would certainly be one), but those abilities are moot if the risks are too high to survive. I don't believe what went wrong here had anything to do with hiking fitness.
With temperatures below freezing at night, in this exposed location, with no way to get out of fog, sleet, breeze, or a sudden snow squall, this was not "within the capabilities" of a solo hiker with little food who even had trouble pitching the flimsy, summer, tarptent (per her own photos).
There were so many ways to get hypothermic on this trip. Even making the "minor" mistake of not removing your sweat-soaked next-to-the-skin layer after trudging uphill could make you hypothermic. She could have got into taking off clothes, and in a hypothermic state didn't put any on. This is not unusual, and there was no one else there to set her right or warm up next to.

 

[RickshawFan]

Here's one of the items I was looking for when I said not to wager your sleuthing skills on vultures.

In a recent recovery, a Rainier SAR team actually took advantage of water flow under snow pack to retrieve a body. They even made some kind of catch basin down-slope. See here:
Thirteen Mountain Rescue Association volunteers and three National Park Service rangers Wednesday began digging a trench at the base of the slope. A ranger descended into the trench around 12:30 p.m. and recovered the body from the base of a waterfall fed by snowmelt.

Hiker dies at Mount Rainier National Park

 

[Satchie]

Before anyone wages their sleuthing skills on vultures.....

Relevant articles at bottom

Consider what snow does and what happens in freeze-thaw cycles.

--Snow moves a lot of stuff around by its bulk movement. It shoves stuff around. Consider the huge moraines left by glaciers, but on a micro scale in this instance.
--Wind over snow can create crazy conditions, I suppose because it smoothes the snow and lowers resistance. It can send bodies flying. See the video of SAR on a mission on Mount Washington.
--Snow can be involved in avalanches. Even tiny, localized, avalanches will dump stuff far from where they start. Think about how many people get buried each year in avalanches out West and where they end up compared to where they started.
--Snow can melt under a snow field and run off downstream. A recent SAR on Rainier worked with this recently to recover a body: it had floated down the mountain in the water stream under the snow.

Then consider freeze-thaw cycles....
Have you ever noticed in New England, what was a cleanish meadow in fall can become a somewhat rocky meadow in spring? That's because freeze/thaw pushes rocks up that are under the surface. Things that are buried are suddenly on top of the ground.
On different scales, this is what happens to bird feeders on poles, house foundations, cement patios, road potholes, mountain sides, frost heaves....

Now consider that the Pyrenees receives many snowfalls, many blizzards, many squalls, many freezing rains, many melts.... That's the context where the bones evidently spent the winter.


A young climber perishes on Mt. Adams

Video:

Hiker dies at Mount Rainier National Park

Science of freeze-thaw in mountain areas: Geological Society - Freeze-thaw

I would think also just plain spring snowmelt could carry bones downhill. I would search uphill of where the skull was found.

One thing that frequently survives is hiking boots or shoes, they're pretty indestructable.

Altho it is sad news, I hope this finding settles Esther's case and she will be safe from scavengers feasting on her remains.

 

[otto]

Discussion about vultures, birds and bodies reminded me of Hannah Graham. Her skull and bones were found after a tip from someone who saw buzzards circling a specific area.

Hannah was nothing but skull, bones, no hair, no skin. The birds took Hannah's hair.

Because the skull in question was found with hair (perhaps belonging to Esther), I'm inclined to think that there were no birds or natural re-location due to snow melt.

"A tip from a landscaper led Virginia police to the remains of missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. ...

"Heading to work that morning, after I glanced to my left at a house that I knew fairly well, and noticed the roof as well as a tree in the back corner of the property was full of buzzards," says Bobby Pugh."​

Tipster leads police to missing U of VA student's body | cbs19.tv

"The deputy who found the remains said he found a skull, scattered bones, no hair and no flesh.

Arden said it is highly unusual for a body to become a skeleton in this climate and time frame."
​

Police search for clues where remains found

 

[otto]

It sounds like bones, a skull and hair have been found. The keeper of the Refuge de Venasque remarks that Esther could have been surprised by a steep, slippery, snowy trail and wind gusts on the French side of the Port de la Glere.

"Missing British backpacker Esther Dingley could have fallen after being caught out by a snow-covered mountain path in the Pyrenees, a local expert has speculated after possible human remains including a skull were found near where she was last seen alive. ...

According to Guilhem Garrigues, the keeper of the Venasque refuge on the French side of the border where the British hiker had planned to spend the night, Ms Dingley could have fallen in snow.

He explained that the paths she was believed to have taken were clear on the Spanish face of the mountains, but could have remained covered in snow around the Puerto de la Glera pass, where the slopes are normally shaded and which could have taken her by surprise.

Mr Garrigues told the Times newspaper: 'The hike is easy in the summer and there are about 20 people who do it every day. But in the winter it changes completely. It's steep and anyone can make a mistake and slip, or be unbalanced by a gust of wind.' ...

'Sources close to the investigation have indicated that the skull could correspond to Esther Dingley's because of the colour and length of the hair.'

French and Spanish police have both confirmed bones have been found but have not gone into any more details.
​

Missing British hiker could have fallen in snow says expert after remains including skull are found | Daily Mail Online

 

[otto]

Esther's partner continues to insist that the trail would have been easy for Esther. However, he omits to mention that the Refuge was closed for Winter, meaning the trails were essentially closed for Winter. Furthermore, the French trails were closed for Covid, so no other hikers were in that area.

Perhaps, if there were other hikers in the area who had hiked on the French side of the border, they would have warned her that the trails at the Port de la Glere were snowy, slippery and dangerous due to Winter conditions. Hiking completely alone might have been her downfall.

"Dingley’s friend has said the mountain trail where bones were found was an “easy” route that was “well within her means”.​

Esther Dingley's boyfriend says mountain path 'human' remains were found on would have been 'easy' hike for missing Brit

 

[otto]

The keeper of the Refuge de Venasque also describes the hike as a long hike from Port de Venasque to Port de la Glere. Dan describes it as an 8 hour hike. He also mentions that Esther hikes faster than described hike times.

If she stayed overnight at the Port de Venasque and did not get an early start to the day, similar to her very late start hiking to the summit the previous day, she would have been in shadow while approaching the Port de la Glere.

She might have realized that it was slippery or more dangerous, but what options did she have? If it was getting dark, cold, windy as she climbed the steep trail, and she was low on food, perhaps she decided it was worth the risk to push through to the pass.

 

[Herat]

It sounds like bones, a skull and hair have been found. The keeper of the Refuge de Venasque remarks that Esther could have been surprised by a steep, slippery, snowy trail and wind gusts on the French side of the Port de la Glere.

"Missing British backpacker Esther Dingley could have fallen after being caught out by a snow-covered mountain path in the Pyrenees, a local expert has speculated after possible human remains including a skull were found near where she was last seen alive. ...

According to Guilhem Garrigues, the keeper of the Venasque refuge on the French side of the border where the British hiker had planned to spend the night, Ms Dingley could have fallen in snow.

He explained that the paths she was believed to have taken were clear on the Spanish face of the mountains, but could have remained covered in snow around the Puerto de la Glera pass, where the slopes are normally shaded and which could have taken her by surprise.

Mr Garrigues told the Times newspaper: 'The hike is easy in the summer and there are about 20 people who do it every day. But in the winter it changes completely. It's steep and anyone can make a mistake and slip, or be unbalanced by a gust of wind.' ...

'Sources close to the investigation have indicated that the skull could correspond to Esther Dingley's because of the colour and length of the hair.'

French and Spanish police have both confirmed bones have been found but have not gone into any more details.
​

Missing British hiker could have fallen in snow says expert after remains including skull are found | Daily Mail Online

Yes, winter changes everything

Do you think this supports the rational route that she would have taken the Port de Venasque, spent the night in the winter refuge and then attempted to ascend the Port de la Glere the next day?

 

[otto]

I'm inclined to think that this is Esther, and I'm now curious about how far (in vertical feet) she fell. Is there any possibility that she slipped off the trail, but not so far that it killed her?

 

[otto]

Yes, winter changes everything

Do you think this supports the rational route that she would have taken the Port de Venasque, spent the night in the winter refuge and then attempted to ascend the Port de la Glere the next day?

This is the specific route that her partner said she was hiking. She would have hiked from the Pic de Sauvegarde to the Port de Venasque, arriving around 4:30. She would have hiked into France to the Refuge de Venasque, arriving around 5:30.

In the morning, she would have started the long hike to the Port de la Glere. Based on the info from the Keeper of the Refuge de Venasque, the area where bones, skull and hair were found is steep, slippery and with wind gusts in Winter. She would have arrived there in the mid to late afternoon. She would have been in the shadow of the mountain, where it would have been colder and slippery. He suggests that she would have been surprised by the trail conditions.

"He explained that the paths she was believed to have taken were clear on the Spanish face of the mountains, but could have remained covered in snow around the Puerto de la Glera pass, where the slopes are normally shaded and which could have taken her by surprise. ...

Mr Garrigues told the Times newspaper: 'The hike is easy in the summer and there are about 20 people who do it every day. But in the winter it changes completely. It's steep and anyone can make a mistake and slip, or be unbalanced by a gust of wind.'
​

Missing British hiker could have fallen in snow says expert after remains including skull are found | Daily Mail Online

 

[Herat]

This is the specific route that her partner said she was hiking. She would have hiked from the Pic de Sauvegarde to the Port de Venasque, arriving around 4:30. She would have hiked into France to the Refuge de Venasque, arriving around 5:30.

In the morning, she would have started the long hike to the Port de la Glere. Based on the info from the Keeper of the Refuge de Venasque, the area where bones, skull and hair were found is steep, slippery and with wind gusts in Winter. She would have arrived there in the mid to late afternoon. She would have been in the shadow of the mountain, where it would have been colder and slippery. He suggests that she would have been surprised by the trail conditions.

"He explained that the paths she was believed to have taken were clear on the Spanish face of the mountains, but could have remained covered in snow around the Puerto de la Glera pass, where the slopes are normally shaded and which could have taken her by surprise. ...

Mr Garrigues told the Times newspaper: 'The hike is easy in the summer and there are about 20 people who do it every day. But in the winter it changes completely. It's steep and anyone can make a mistake and slip, or be unbalanced by a gust of wind.'
​

Missing British hiker could have fallen in snow says expert after remains including skull are found | Daily Mail Online

I thought upthread that there was speculation she had gone from Pic de Sauvegarde to Refuge de Venasque via the Port de la Glere, rather than the more obvious route to the east down Port de Venasque.

It actually looks rather dry and not snow-innundated in the photo from Pic de Sauvegarde. However, I would be very concerned that both Port de Venasque and Port de la Glere as being heavily shaded and very icy in late afternoon winter conditions, both in the lee of the ridgeline.

 

[otto]

I'm curious about whether there was a sudden change in weather conditions on the French side of the border. As the sun moved lower in the sky, she would have been in the shadow of the mountain. Dan describes Esther as hiking in leggings or shorts. Did she have to stop on the steep trail to add layers of clothing?

He does not describe bright coloured clothing, so even if she was visible from the helicopters, if she was wearing darker clothing that blended into the mountain, they could have missed her.

https://42cc80b7-be3b-41e3-a85b-18b...d/4addd9_d8c55b489c6f445b96d6324dd882f5a1.pdf

 

[otto]

I thought upthread that there was speculation she had gone from Pic de Sauvegarde to Refuge de Venasque via the Port de la Glere, rather than the more obvious route to the east down Port de Venasque.

It actually looks rather dry and not snow-innundated in the photo from Pic de Sauvegarde. However, I would be very concerned that both Port de Venasque and Port de la Glere as being heavily shaded and very icy in late afternoon winter conditions, both in the lee of the ridgeline.

That is what she said in her final conversation with her partner - that she was heading to the Port de la Glere, perhaps dip into France and she wondered whether the Winter Room at the Refuge was open. Taken literally, it means one thing, perhaps when discussing routes with her partner, it means something slightly different.

This is the map provided by her partner in the dossier that he prepared. (link). The bones, skull and hair were found on the French side of the border near the Port de la Glere, which is towards the end of her planned hike (per her partner).

 

[Herat]

She was carrying MicroSpikes and trekking poles.

I hope they can find her boots and determine if she was wearing the microspikes or not

 

[otto]

Early on we discussed the wind and temperature conditions on each side of the mountain - the Spanish side and the French side. It was in the context of hiking from the Port de Venasque to the Refuge de Venasque. Apparently we were on the right track, but we should have been looking at the Port de la Glere instead.

 

[otto]

She was carrying MicroSpikes and trekking poles.

I hope they can find her boots and determine if she was wearing the microspikes or not

It sounds like a hiker saw her hair and skull. Later reports mention bones. I suspect that her clothing and backpack will be nearby.

 

[RickshawFan]

I thought upthread that there was speculation she had gone from Pic de Sauvegarde to Refuge de Venasque via the Port de la Glere, rather than the more obvious route to the east down Port de Venasque.

It actually looks rather dry and not snow-innundated in the photo from Pic de Sauvegarde. However, I would be very concerned that both Port de Venasque and Port de la Glere as being heavily shaded and very icy in late afternoon winter conditions, both in the lee of the ridgeline.

The lee must be on the Spain side. The wind was on the France side. Very dangerous.
ED wouldn’t have had to fall. She could easily have got hypothermic. Recall she was in yoga tights. Those are super thin and offer no protection from wind.

 

[RickshawFan]

I thought upthread that there was speculation she had gone from Pic de Sauvegarde to Refuge de Venasque via the Port de la Glere, rather than the more obvious route to the east down Port de Venasque.

It actually looks rather dry and not snow-innundated in the photo from Pic de Sauvegarde. However, I would be very concerned that both Port de Venasque and Port de la Glere as being heavily shaded and very icy in late afternoon winter conditions, both in the lee of the ridgeline.

The Ports would have offered some shelter from the elements. If you had to lay up, and there was no bothy or whatever, you could use the ports.

 

[RickshawFan]

She was carrying MicroSpikes and trekking poles.

I hope they can find her boots and determine if she was wearing the microspikes or not

She owned microspikes, evidently, but we don’t know if she actually had them in her pack. They would have been of no use in snow, anyway. That would require snowshoes or maybe crampons, depending on conditions.
An experienced backcountry hiker would have turned back immediately on encountering snow, even if it meant 2 days retracing steps. This would be the case if you got to a snowfield (where a trail is not visible, even more certainly so during lock-down). If a snow squall, you’d go back down the mountain fast.
If you could see the Port close by (this is a human-carved notch correct?), it might be tempting to go for it, because it would have given you some protection. But you might not be able to see the Port until you were right on it.
You’d need a paper map to know exactly where you were on the trail (a phone is way too small), and a GPS would likely not work if fog or a squall rolled in.

 

[otto]

She owned microspikes, evidently, but we don’t know if she actually had them in her pack. They would have been of no use in snow, anyway. That would require snowshoes or maybe crampons, depending on conditions.
An experienced backcountry hiker would have turned back immediately on encountering snow, even if it meant 2 days retracing steps. This would be the case if you got to a snowfield (where a trail is not visible, even more certainly so during lock-down). If a snow squall, you’d go back down the mountain fast.
If you could see the Port close by (this is a human-carved notch correct?), it might be tempting to go for it, because it would have given you some protection. But you might not be able to see the Port until you were right on it.
You’d need a paper map to know exactly where you were on the trail (a phone is way too small), and a GPS would likely not work if fog or a squall rolled in.

She should have turned back, but if the hike is 8 hours (per Dan) and she assumed she could do it in 6 hours, she might have had a late start to the day. Perhaps she started the hike at 10AM. That would place her in a dangerous location at 4PM. Turning back as the shadow of the mountain stretched over the trail might have left her in a location where there was really no safe option.