When was the search for ED stopped due to the weather/snowfall? Was the search in November/December more of a rescue search, that they hoped to find ED alive? How much time did the searchers, and DC, have to look for clues if something nefarious had happened to ED before the weather changed? Perhaps DC is hoping to find some proof that ED didn't disappeared voluntarily, something she had dropped, I would guess he would be familiar with the items she were carrying. Also, being where she was seen last, it's possible he could figure out where she might have gone is she had made a sudden, spontaneous last- minute change where to go.
From Dan’s dossier:
The search for Esther commenced at first light on Thursday 26th November, the morning after she was due to return to the motorhome in Benasque, with search teams deployed in both France and Spain, some walking with dogs and some in helicopters flying over the area. These are highly trained, highly proficient experts who have been working in this specific area of the mountains for many years. They know the terrain and locations that are likely to cause difficult for hikers.
For the first two days of the search, visibility on Pic de Sauvegarde was hampered slightly by a light dusting of snow and some cloud, although nothing that prevented the search teams ascending the routes from both sides of the mountain and the helicopters could still see most of the mountainside.
From Saturday 27th – Tuesday 1st December, the sunny weather returned, the light dusting of snow mostly melted and visibility was excellent. In addition to continued search teams retracing Esther’s planned route and other nearby trails, helicopter search teams continued to fly up and down the slopes.
The Spanish police also spent a day scanning the slopes of Pic de Sauvegarde with high powered telescopes from the opposite side of the valley. At times literally dozens of search and rescue personnel were walking the trails looking for any trace of Esther or her equipment.
The focus of the search was Esther’s last known location, planned route and nearby alternatives, with searchers sweeping back and forth over the hillside away from the trails, literally looking under large rocks and descending into crevices in the landscape.
In addition to this immediate area, as the map below indicates, trails in a very wide surrounding area were also walked. For more distant trails, search teams on the ground were flown in with helicopters. Water bottles and a pair of gloves were found, indicating the closeness of the search, but nothing belonging to Esther.
Esther’s partner Dan, was in close communication with both the French and Spanish search teams on a daily basis, providing information on Esther’s preferences, ability, hiking pace and communication habits. He also walked and searched the hillsides around all of the trails in the immediate area of Esther’s last known location on the French side (walking alone so he could continue outside of standard SAR hours).
On Wednesday 2nd December heavy snow began to fall in the area...snip
Otherwise as you say, it's quite a contradiction
