Backpacking the Cuberant Basin 2021, Part 2: Camp, Dinner and Discussing Garrett's disappearance
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2021
- Last year, I backpacked into the Cuberant Basin in order to try to understand how and why a 12-year-old Boy Scout named Garrett Bardsley vanished without a trace there. In this new series, I returned to the basin to again remember Garrett and to try to understand what may or may not have happened to him. This is Part Two, in which I find and set up camp, start dinner, and discuss in detail some of the reasons that Garrett may have disappeared.
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Appreciate you and your vulnerability in your videos, Steve.
Thanks, Devin 👍
Incredible bravery to do this video. I was initially shocked of how and why this video quickly became a personal journey for the truth, but I know I am all the more
fulfilled to see it. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
I’m glad you shared some of your childhood trauma. For every bit you talk about, there is a bit more taken off your shoulders.
And thank you for keeping the memory of Garrett alive..blessed be
Thank you for sharing your story.
No problem. I felt I needed to because so many people in past comments have wondered why I thought it may have happened to Garrett as well. The police said there was no evidence in his case to suspect an abduction. However, there wasn't any evidence that he was taken by a wild animal or simply got lost, either
As a native of Bountiful, I was 8 years old when this happened. It haunted me then and haunts me now. My neighbors and I were hearing about this in the news and were distraught. My heart breaks for his family and all who knew him. And I wish to thank you and express my deepest condolences for what you went through, and I’m so glad you’re here today.
Eternal gratitude and love for your bravery, honesty and concern for others. Take care man.
Thank you. I sincerely appreciate that 🙏
Thanks for sharing Steve. It's a shame kids have to suffer being abused by adults. Their are some truly evil people out there. Prison will seem like a walk in the park compared to what the after life has in store for him. God bless you and your family Steve.
I agree. Whatever is coming after this, they're going to have to pay and pay and pay... Thanks for watching, Jon
Much love my Friend. Takes courage to share openly like this.
Thank you, Joe
Sorry to hear about your trouble past. I'm glad that you are dealing with it ok. Garrett's disappearance is certainly a mystery. Amazing that there was no trace at all. Hopefully there will be some closure to his disappearance at some point. Good on you to keep his memory alive. Have a great day.
Thank you, sir... I hope there will be closure for him someday. Maybe these videos will help 🙂
Thanks for sharing your story. So sorry you went through this.
Thank you!! You helped someone out there❤❤❤
thank you for sharing your story
Thank you for being willing to share your story- I love your videos, and appreciate your strength and openness to all you have overcome
Thank you. That means a lot to me 🙂
That is so weird, all you were saying is so true, it always will make me wonder what happened. It almost drives you nuts thinking about that. I am also sorry for what you went through as a child, that is so hard to hear. I can't even imagine. Thank you for sharing that.
Thank you, Nicole 😊
Steve... What a powerful video. I truly believe you are on the right track. Accounts like this just rip your heart out. I have to think about this as currently I'm following two cases of missing children. A young boy from Idaho, and a young girl from TN.
Never have I seen such a convoluted story from parents that makes no sense whatsoever. I'm on a much needed camping trip with a group of friends so that's why I wasn't one of your first people viewing this. Looking forward to episode #3.
I think I know which Idaho case you're talking about. So sad. Thank you for the kind words. Next time, you can be first, haha. Be safe & have a fun trip
There are dozens of documentaries about people going missing in the Rockies, just yards away from friends and loved ones, I can not explain it. I am truly sorry you had to go through that Steve.
I have watched the missing 411 series. It's as fascinating as it is sad. I agree, the mountains are so full of mysteries like this that may never be solved. Thank you for the kind words 🙂
Thanks for sharing. The part where you said if an adult looks at your sons in a weird way and you'd be in there face. Man I totally agree. Just thinking about someone hurting my kids gets me all passed off and worked up. I get like you, very protective. To the point that it scares me sometimes. Anyway, thanks again for keeping Garrett's story/memory alive. I have wondered about the mystery of it. Its like a portal opened up and swallowed him. Great video Steve. Very brave of you to share. Gods always listening.
Thank you so much... yeah, I hear that! I can take all of the abuse in the world personally, but I turn into something entirely different when my kids are involved.
I think your spot on, and thanks for sharing.
I appreciate that. And thank you for watching 🙂
I was there this past Mon, Tues, Wed....also knew Garrett's dad a few years after his son's disappearance, as he was a bishopric counselor in a church singles ward I was in years ago....a fair number of rock clacks in the night and even day where we were...Sorry you experienced all that, glad to hear about the miraculous delivery that one time. Take care out there sir.
He seems like a good man. I can't imagine what he went through. It's a beautiful but eerie area. Thank you for the kind words and for taking the time to watch 🙂
The puke section was cracking me up lol
Haha... puke in a pouch!
@@utahsteveoutdoors lol
I live in Ogden too. Garrett's disappearance has baffled me for years. I'm not familiar with the Cuberant basin, but I've read a lot of information online about people who have spent time there.
It seems the Meadow area is quite large and it's hard to understand how Garrett would have walked by it when he was returning to camp. I'm sure other people would have been awake at the time, do possible camp fire going, noises from other scouts and leaders. I would assume other people were camped in the area like you mentioned. They didn't see him.
The fact that he would have not noticed after walking and not reaching camp is strange too. It's hard to picture him walking aimlessly further into the unknown. Especially because a lot of it is steep, with huge boulders like the area before coming into the basin. Surely he would recognize that was not the right way. As he would likely remember having come in that way.
They were looking for him within half an hour or less of him leaving back to camp. And the fact that it was 8am, gave a full day for him to find his way back.
They searched a 40 sq mile area with dogs, helicopters, people using megaphones and shoulder to shoulder searching of over 1000 people over ten day. I think he most likely died the first night.
Unfortunately, I think he passed the first night, too. From what, I can't say. Your thoughts are very similar to my own...and I love that this series is keeping people thinking, wondering, investigating. You make some great points. It's completely baffling that he could vanish without a trace in such a short distance from the lake to the camp. The meadow is huge and impossible to miss. Thanks for the great comment & for adding to the discussion! 🙂
You don't know if the time period of when he went missing is correct. You assume so, because that is what the father said. Never believe what people tell you, or at least be wary. Especially when they have nothing to lose.
I returned to this area just last year & addressed other possibilities in that video. I even brought a law enforcement expert with me. This is just one in an ongoing series., and one that I plan to continue, hoping to find closure one way or another. Thanks for taking the time to watch.
I’ve never forgotten Garrett. His disappearance caught my attention like nothing else. I’ve watched several of these videos and have yet to get answers to:
1. Was anyone awake when Garrett and his father left the campsite ? Were there witnesses to when they left?
I've thought similar things. In a more recent video/ visit to the area, I addressed some of those questions. It's one of my more recent videos, if you're interested
What’s your opinion on stacking sleeping pads? Like a cheaper foam pad, and a medium priced inflatable pad. That’s not super thick.
I experimented with that combination a bit last year, using a z lite & an inexpensive inflatable pad. The foam pad works well for ground insulation. I was pretty comfortable. More than I would have been using one or the other alone
quick sand
I took one hike and came across a bear. It ran away but I was upset for a bit. I had an extra big fire that night. I always think about what could have happened. I get lost now and then and I think it's easier to get lost than people realize. It would be nice to have closure for Garrett.
Understandable. I'm not ruling out that he may have become lost or was attacked by an animal. I was just trying to explain why I said what I did last year. Maybe one day there will be closure for Garrett and his family, regardless of how it happened. Thanks for the insight.
@@utahsteveoutdoors I hope so.
I think you're spot on and I wonder how well the adults' tents were checked and if he could have been hidden there after the assault. He was a smaller kid and I'm not a camper but could his body have been rolled up in a tent upon departure?
hello from Bulgaria. You are a brave man, you shared a very dark and terrible tragedy from your childhood. And you are right- Garrett Bardsley was abducted, if not- where is the body, or clothes? What do u think about the disappearance of Derek Engebretson? May be abduction by the chance? sorry for my bad english
Thank you for the kind words. Your English is just fine 🙂 You're right... there are too many unanswered questions with Garrett. Very strange. I haven't heard of Derek's case but I will definitely look into it. This happens way too much!
I showed this story to my pops and him and I have a theory of how this happened. We think because no evidence of Garret was ever found in the Cuberant Basin that this was intentional and planned by Garret. We think he used the opportunity of getting his socks wet to go back to camp, then run off into the woods, hide in a lake or tree until nightfall then escape the basin by going back down the trail until he got to the road. Then hitchhiked somewhere. Maybe he had some money or supplies hidden on him. Garret could have planned this for weeks or months before hand. Maybe Garret didn't like his life and wanted to start a new one. All I can say is I hope he succeeded and is still alive somewhere. Thanks for sharing!
That's an interesting theory, and one I haven't heard before. I'd be interested to know what other viewers might think. I got your comment just as I was leaving the Cuberant Basin. Strange/interesting timing. Thanks for the input!
@@utahsteveoutdoors , strange timing yes. Here is why I think that is what happened.
1. no trace of Garret was ever found in the basin
2. It would be very hard to do something bad to him, dig a hole and bury someone that close to other people in such a short period without being seen or heard.
3. Carrying 5ft 110lb Garret out of the basin down the tiny trail to the road would be nearly impossible.
I think garret may have had a bad life at home. Maybe his parents where not nice to him.
Garret may have made choices against his parents' religious beliefs. I have heard of many stories of kids leaving a bad situation. I hope he's out there and living the life he wanted. Thanks for sharing your story!
Re Garrett. Why are people taking everything that's said at face value? We do not know if the father's story is true. I do not for one minute believe that Garrett walked back because of wet feet.
I am not saying his father did anything to him. It could have been an accident, it could have been a punishment gone wrong, but that little boy did not decide by himself to walk back to camp.
Maybe they argued, and Garrett walked away in anger. Point is, we don't know.
If you slip and get a bit wet, you keep on. No one would take the time to walk back to camp site just to change your socks. Why? Becuse you have a fresh pair of socks with you! Every scout know this.
If the weather is not good enough to take off your socks, you most certainly would be better prepared, including whats on your feet. Meaning good, waterproof boots or vaders. If the weather is fine, then a wet sock is either removed, replaced or you carry on.
Kevin shouting out to Garrett that he is on the wrong path, is of course completely made up by Kevin. Its a nice cover story to pretend that the boy did not know the way, and had to be guided.
But why would Kevin claim that, if it makes him seem negligent for still allowing Garrett to walk by himself? The same reason the two doctors in Portugal claimed that they were dining out and away from the appartement. Better to be charged with neglect that with murder or manslaughter.
If Kevin went with him, the boy couldn't vanish. And if the parents in Portugal didn't leave the building, no "abduction" could take place.
I addressed the issue with the father in a more recent video in 2023. I would recommend checking that one out as well.