Found Deceased Spain - Esther Dingley, from UK, missing in the Pyrenees, November 2020 #6

[poirotoupierrot]

DBM - duplicate post

It's quite logical what you say, but as has been discussed earlier on the thread and by the police, due to weather and shift in snow, Esther's body could have moved quite significantly during the months since last November. Snow, ice, lammergeiers are all present - plus very steep terrain, and scree everywhere. The snow-cover was apparently the initial problem in not locating her body. Or the stated one.

 

[SleutherRuth]

I reckon this specific area was not searched as thoroughly before the skull was found there. Seems Esther might have been off the trail and the area she was found is not a typical route, it’s also difficult terrain which would be hard to search solely on foot. For all we know these remains could have been spotted using binoculars or a drone and not by simply strolling past.

This is what I assumed too. I was just confused why Dan was so confident that there was no where she could have fallen that would have been difficult to see, when clearly there was (where she ultimately was found). Presumably down to being off-route to where they expected though.

 

[SleutherRuth]

It's quite logical what you say, but as has been discussed earlier on the thread and by the police, due to weather and shift in snow, Esther's body could have moved quite significantly during the months since last November. Snow, ice, lammergeiers are all present - plus very steep terrain, and scree everywhere. The snow-cover was apparently the initial problem in not locating her body. Or the stated one.

You’re right, the snow must have made this difficult. Just seems a strange conclusion to draw that there were very few places she could have been that they wouldn’t be able to see, when there were actually these ‘inaccessible’ locations.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

You’re right, the snow must have made this difficult. Just seems a strange conclusion to draw that there were very few places she could have been that they wouldn’t be able to see, when there were actually these ‘inaccessible’ locations.

He asserted she wouldn’t have gone off the well worn trail, so back when he said that I guess he hadn’t started searching off the beaten track. It’s fortunate the skull was found really, if it hadn’t been, they’d still be searching a massive landscape. In effect, by a vulture (or other animal) leaving it there, it pinpointed a search area.

And yes, I’d forgotten the snow issue. It would probably have covered her, and the tent if it was still near her.

 

[SleutherRuth]

He asserted she wouldn’t have gone off the well worn trail, so back when he said that I guess he hadn’t started searching off the beaten track. It’s fortunate the skull was found really, if it hadn’t been, they’d still be searching a massive landscape. In effect, by a vulture (or other animal) leaving it there, it pinpointed a search area.

And yes, I’d forgotten the snow issue. It would probably have covered her, and the tent if it was still near her.

Yes that’s a good point. It’s also easy to forget how much ground there is to cover, in what looks like tiny areas on a very large map. Must be like looking for a needle in a haystack

 

[poirotoupierrot]

The trail, with photos, from the Cabane de Besurtas to the summit of Tuca de La Glera. Be warned it's in Spanish, though the Spanish is not difficult. It gives an idea of the terrain while on foot.

Montesymasdebucuesa: 42-14. PICO DE LA GLERA POR LA ARISTA SUDOESTE. 6-6-14.

It's a stunning area. Useful info. Great photos and description. I have walked around the area, when I was much younger. I now think it's quite possible there was just errors in planning, and she may have been unhappy or tired and just pushed herself too far. I don't know if this included being reckless with her safety because she was unhappy - possibly just dizzy at that height?

 

[poirotoupierrot]

It may say Pyrenees as the location but on the final Instagram post if you look at the 3rd picture in you can see where "Pic Sauvegard" has been painted on the rocks. When you mentioned the selfie I also assumed you meant the last pictures of ED as released by DC? They almost certainly were on Sauvegarde as well, the features in the background tie in.

But yes we cannot rule out that the cause of death was taking a selfie on the Pic de la Glere, but no images have been released yet. Hopefully some clues will be found on her phone or camera if the SD cards in them have survived the winter conditions.

Oh! I see what you meant now! No, I wasn't restricting hte place, so I didn't know why you were going on about it - sorry! Seems like you were very focussed on place as you thought it ruled out whatever I had said, and that's important to you, but that wasn't what I was saying...

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Yes that’s a good point. It’s also easy to forget how much ground there is to cover, in what looks like tiny areas on a very large map. Must be like looking for a needle in a haystack

It’s ironic if the brightest thing she had is not with her. Who knows, maybe she fell and was hurt, so got it out of her backpack because it’s highly visible, but it blew away before she was found. I really hope she didn’t lay there, broken and starving until she passed away.

A big lesson here is to always wear the brightest coloured clothing you can if solo hiking. Had her coat or rucksack been bright yellow, she might have been spotted sooner.

 

[SleutherRuth]

It’s ironic if the brightest thing she had is not with her. Who knows, maybe she fell and was hurt, so got it out of her backpack because it’s highly visible, but it blew away before she was found. I really hope she didn’t lay there, broken and starving until she passed away.

A big lesson here is to always wear the brightest coloured clothing you can if solo hiking. Had her coat or rucksack been bright yellow, she might have been spotted sooner.

This would make sense why the tent can’t be located. Really horrible and sad to think about

you’re right - my hiking jackets are dark green & dark navy, I think I’m going to invest in something much brighter now.

 

[poirotoupierrot]

This would make sense why the tent can’t be located. Really horrible and sad to think about

you’re right - my hiking jackets are dark green & dark navy, I think I’m going to invest in something much brighter now.

Then again, if someone DID do something untoward the first thing they'd get rid of is anything bright, in order to hide the body. In full knowledge that snow would cover it and them for at least 6 months....

 

[poirotoupierrot]

I reckon this specific area was not searched as thoroughly before the skull was found there. Seems Esther might have been off the trail and the area she was found is not a typical route, it’s also difficult terrain which would be hard to search solely on foot. For all we know these remains could have been spotted using binoculars or a drone and not by simply strolling past.

Was snow also the reason for that? I remember the police saying they didn't want to endanger their people up there

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Was snow also the reason for that? I remember the police saying they didn't want to endanger their people up there

You’re right, they did. Another reason for the delay in thoroughly searching that particular area.

 

[Pahorb]

Then again, if someone DID do something untoward the first thing they'd get rid of is anything bright, in order to hide the body. In full knowledge that snow would cover it and them for at least 6 months....

Yes. Also cover body with rocks and stones. Maybe it is good to wait and see what police think about remains of Esther Dingley and where she was lying? In my opinion they will be looking for sign of fall on body. Also if she was not dead if she fell then not saying route and not reporting missing sad and deadly maybe. In my opinion.

 

[poirotoupierrot]

It may say Pyrenees as the location but on the final Instagram post if you look at the 3rd picture in you can see where "Pic Sauvegard" has been painted on the rocks. When you mentioned the selfie I also assumed you meant the last pictures of ED as released by DC? They almost certainly were on Sauvegarde as well, the features in the background tie in.

But yes we cannot rule out that the cause of death was taking a selfie on the Pic de la Glere, but no images have been released yet. Hopefully some clues will be found on her phone or camera if the SD cards in them have survived the winter conditions.

Sorry to be blunt but I've been trying to work out what you were getting and you seem to be implying she would have been able to post pics After her death? Or the photos might be retrieved from that height?!

That's why I was so confused by what you said...Sure, she posted on or near Pic Sauvegarde and I saw the lettering, but I was suggesting she fell later, somewhere between there and Porte de la La Gléré (whichever rouute she took)/and/or Pic de la Gléré - and now I think maybe not even during a selfie, just because it was treacherous and she was very very tired...

 

[poirotoupierrot]

I'm so sad about Esther. For all my wonderings and possibly offensive speculation. I just want to know what happened. And that she was having fun and didn't suffer, and then I hope a numb thing happened that she didn't know about.

 

[Grouse]

Sorry to be blunt but I've been trying to work out what you were getting and you seem to be implying she would have been able to post pics After her death? Or the photos might be retrieved from that height?!

That's why I was so confused by what you said...Sure, she posted on or near Pic Sauvegarde and I saw the lettering, but I was suggesting she fell later, somewhere between there and Porte de la La Gléré (whichever rouute she took)/and/or Pic de la Gléré - and now I think maybe not even during a selfie, just because it was treacherous and she was very very tired...

Not sure if you are being serious, but FWIW it is clear I wouldn't suggest "post pics fter her death". If you read my post that was clearly not what I meant. I talked about what MAY potentially be recovered from her camera.

 

[ZaZara]

I wrote to the reporter of Actu.Toulouse and asked him if he was certain that the yellow tent is still missing.

Because his report is the only source for this alleged piece of info, all other sources mention that this time Esther's belongings have been found. ('This time' as opposed to when the partial skull was found two weeks ago, at that time, the yellow tent was mentioned as missing.)

I hope he takes the hint!

Meanwhile IMO we can be pretty certain that the yellow tent was with Esther and probably in the backpack.

 

[Konstantin]

Below is the BBC report. some reports are claiming her tent is missing.

The boyfriend of a British woman who went missing while hiking in the Pyrenees has found her body and belongings.

Esther Dingley, from Durham, vanished on a solo trek in November sparking major searches by French and Spanish police and her partner Daniel Colegate.

A fragment of bone found in July was confirmed to be the 37-year-old's.

LBT Global, which is supporting the family, said an accident "is the most likely hypothesis".

A spokesman for the overseas crisis support charity said Mr Colegate found his girlfriend's remains on Monday afternoon, close to where the bone fragment was discovered.

 

[Hatty]

I wrote to the reporter of Actu.Toulouse and asked him if he was certain that the yellow tent is still missing.

Because his report is the only source for this alleged piece of info, all other sources mention that this time Esther's belongings have been found. ('This time' as opposed to when the partial skull was found two weeks ago, at that time, the yellow tent was mentioned as missing.)

I hope he takes the hint!

Meanwhile IMO we can be pretty certain that the yellow tent was with Esther and probably in the backpack.

Yes I think you’re right. LBT Global has made no mention of it being missing in their press release.

If it was in her rucksack, perhaps she was killed instantly and was unable to get it out to use for drawing attention to her plight. That is a far better scenario than not being killed instantly.

If it turns out that her phone is not with her that might indicate she was taking a selfie when she tripped and fell. She may have placed it on a rock as she has done previously on a video I have seen where she was dancing - , or of course just had it in her hand.

Alternatively she just tripped and fell, full stop.

 

[poirotoupierrot]

Awful other possible speculation: say there Was a nasty person present at or before her death (either by accident/negligence/active aggression), what if the tent is important? What if it was used to seal her off from animals in a crevice? Or : o used to transport her body across the snow to hide it??? What if that plan has backfired? What if snow fall and drift pushed the truth out to the surface, and the tent and belongings are knowingly being kept somewhere, or have been destroyed? I'm probably overthinking it. I'm sorry if I have a sick mind. I hope I have. I really do. Doesn't change the sadness of this, but if there has been some violent person involved, I wonder if something like that happened.