AI Summary
5 min readThe Mystery of Eric Robinson: A Solo Hiker Who Vanished Without a Trace
In March 2008, Eric Robinson, a 60-year-old Australian retiree and experienced hiker, set out alone on a trail through New Zealand's Southern Alps. He carried a GPS beacon, a tent, extra food, and a waterproof jacket. He had a saying: "There's no such thing as bad weather, just a poor choice of clothing." When torrential rains swept the region and he failed to meet a friend in the resort town of Wanaka, his wife Marilyn received the call she had dreaded. Eric Robinson had disappeared on the Cascade Saddle track, a steep, exposed route known for claiming lives when its grassy slopes become slick with rain. The search that followed would reveal not only the mystery of what happened to one man, but the deeper forces that drive people to push themselves into wild, dangerous places alone.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:06) **Introducing Uinta Triangle** - Amy Donaldson previews Dave Cawley's new audio documentary about missing solo hiker Eric Robinson.
- 2 (01:49) **The Setting: New Zealand's Cascade Saddle** - The episode opens with a quote from Nan Shepherd, then describes the rainstorm that hit New Zealand in March 2008.
- 3 (04:15) **Eric and Marilyn's Life Together** - Marilyn Kulstra describes her husband Eric, a recently retired man with a long list of hiking destinations.
- 4 (07:44) **The Search Begins** - Marilyn contacts Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs after learning Eric is missing.
- 5 (08:44) **Host Dave Cawley's Journey Begins** - Dave Cawley, a journalist, flies from the US to Australia in 2024 to investigate the mystery.
- 6 (11:30) **Dave Hikes the Cascade Saddle** - Dave travels solo to New Zealand to follow Eric's footsteps, experiencing the terrain firsthand.
- 7 (14:34) **How Marilyn and Eric Met** - Flashback to 1994: Marilyn and Eric meet through an introduction agency (dating service).
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Show Notes
This week, we’re sharing a gripping new podcast from KSL Podcasts & Lemonada Media: Uinta Triangle. It tells the story of a solo hiker from Australia named Eric Robinson, who disappeared while on a trek. Eric’d taken steps to make sure he could travel the mountains that he loved safely, like packing a GPS beacon. So it was a real mystery when he vanished without a trace.
Turns out, the mountains where Eric disappeared are known for keeping their secrets. Uinta Triangle tells the story of the desperate search for Eric. Host Dave Cawley follows in Eric’s footsteps, and joins Eric’s wife in her worldwide hunt for answers. It’s a “lost in the woods” story, but much more.
You’ll hear a clip from the first episode in this feed. To keep listening, follow Uinta Triangle — wherever you get your podcasts or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/UintaTrianglefd
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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