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

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Now I see what you're saying. I can't remember if DC plotted out areas where there was or was not cell reception, but AFAIK those all would have been in France. It's not certain ED ever went in that direction; she might just as easily have gone in the opposite direction. LE is certainly not convinced she went into France.


Sorry I can't find a quote to confirm, but it also sticks out in my memory that Dan at some point said something about confirming the places where there would/would not be phone signal around the search area.

Hope they do resume the search soon, and that it ends with some kind of positive news. This is one of those cases where it really could be anything, the information we have is just not enough sadly and I think too much has been made of the little details.
 
Found these three articles today and thought I'd share since they seem germane to our sleuthing for ED. To me it sounds like the SARS search has resumed for ED.

1. This 21/4 article was several days before the one posted here about DC's solo search for ED in lower elevations (26/4). If we believe this article, it sounds like the search by SARS for ED has resumed: "Yesterday a French mountain rescue source said: "We are still looking for Esther and another Spanish man who went missing and we are working closely with our colleagues over the border in Spain... All options on Esther are being kept open, even the theory of a non-accident.""
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14723172/rescue-teams-brit-hiker-esther-dingley-find-body-man/

2. This 31/3 article is about the French gendarmerie finding Miguel Villarroya, 68, deceased, in the French part of Pic d'Arriel (referenced in the 21/4 article, above). Of note, the article references details about the multi-agency search in March: "During the investigation, both the Civil Guard of the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Team (EREIM) intervened , with support from the Aragón Area Air Unit, the Jaca Judicial Police and the Citizen Security post of several adjacent municipalities, as well as the French National Gendarmerie , which was the one who finally found the body while carrying out a search in case the mountaineer had crossed the border."
Hallado el cadáver del montañero zaragozano desaparecido hace un mes en Sallent

3. This 31/3 article is about Miguel Villarroya missing - last heard from on 23/3. As per the article above, he was found deceased 31/3.
Buscan a un montañero zaragozano desaparecido hace una semana en Sallent

Granted the higher elevations and lakes may still be unsearchable given ice/snow pack, but each day of warmer weather undoubtedly will melt that all away.
 
Now I see what you're saying. I can't remember if DC plotted out areas where there was or was not cell reception, but AFAIK those all would have been in France. It's not certain ED ever went in that direction; she might just as easily have gone in the opposite direction. LE is certainly not convinced she went into France.

Even if he walked a similar route as she, doesn't signal vary somewhat? I guess it could show long stretches of potential areas with little-to-no signal. This case is baffling. I thought for sure with the warmer weather that there would be resolution. I hope she is found soon.
 
Found these three articles today and thought I'd share since they seem germane to our sleuthing for ED. To me it sounds like the SARS search has resumed for ED.

1. This 21/4 article was several days before the one posted here about DC's solo search for ED in lower elevations (26/4). If we believe this article, it sounds like the search by SARS for ED has resumed: "Yesterday a French mountain rescue source said: "We are still looking for Esther and another Spanish man who went missing and we are working closely with our colleagues over the border in Spain... All options on Esther are being kept open, even the theory of a non-accident.""
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14723172/rescue-teams-brit-hiker-esther-dingley-find-body-man/

2. This 31/3 article is about the French gendarmerie finding Miguel Villarroya, 68, deceased, in the French part of Pic d'Arriel (referenced in the 21/4 article, above). Of note, the article references details about the multi-agency search in March: "During the investigation, both the Civil Guard of the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Team (EREIM) intervened , with support from the Aragón Area Air Unit, the Jaca Judicial Police and the Citizen Security post of several adjacent municipalities, as well as the French National Gendarmerie , which was the one who finally found the body while carrying out a search in case the mountaineer had crossed the border."
Hallado el cadáver del montañero zaragozano desaparecido hace un mes en Sallent

3. This 31/3 article is about Miguel Villarroya missing - last heard from on 23/3. As per the article above, he was found deceased 31/3.
Buscan a un montañero zaragozano desaparecido hace una semana en Sallent

Granted the higher elevations and lakes may still be unsearchable given ice/snow pack, but each day of warmer weather undoubtedly will melt that all away.


The searches for Miguel Villarroya have nothing to do with the disappearance of Esther Dingley.
Miguel Villarroya disappeared in an area at a distance over over 70 kms from where Esther was last seen. It was also suspected (and this proved to be true) that MV went hiking in an area with snow, so it made sense to look for him in those areas as he might still be visible.

That is most likely fake news. Miguel Villarroya went missing in a different area and he was found on the French side of the Arriel Peak.

The distance between the Arriel peak and the Salvaguardia is at least 70 kms as the crow flies. It is hard to imagine that anyone would go searching there for Esther Dingley instead of near the Salvaguardia.

I see that more outlets publish this as "news"
animated-smileys-angry-054.gif
animated-smileys-angry-068.gif


Why in the name of common sense?? The remains of Miguel Villaroya were found on April 8, almost two weeks ago when temperatures were still low and there was frost and snow in the Benasque area.

In fact, there still is snow as we speak in the Pyrenees near Benasque.




Earlier, I posted about Miguel Villarroya here:

Spain - Esther Dingley, from UK, missing in the Pyrenees, November 2020 #5
 
The searches for Miguel Villarroya have nothing to do with the disappearance of Esther Dingley.
Miguel Villarroya disappeared in an area at a distance over over 70 kms from where Esther was last seen. It was also suspected (and this proved to be true) that MV went hiking in an area with snow, so it made sense to look for him in those areas as he might still be visible.
You're right @ZaZara - sorry for the regurgitation of bogus news.... so hard to tell what is truth, but I now recall you debunking these stories before.
 
El final del estado de alarma dispara los rescates de montaña y se teme otro verano accidentado

End of state of alarm sees mountain rescues soar and fears of another summer with many accidents

Rescues fell by only 14% in 2020, despite confinements, with record numbers in August of four a day.
The abundance of snow and the strong waters in the canyons have already caused one death and 14 injuries this month.


The death of a canyoner who drowned in Torla and the serious accident of a skier who fell 200 metres down a snowy slope on the descent of the Aneto have set off the first warning signals. The increase in mobility at the end of the state of alarm, on 9 May, has already begun to be felt in the Aragonese mountains with an increase in rescues in May. The first fatality has been recorded since August 2020 and 14 people have been injured, in what seems a foretaste of what is to come in summer, if the trend of 2020 is confirmed, a year with more tourists in nature destinations, considered safe, and with a new profile of more inexperienced visitor.

During the first year of the pandemic, the number of rescues barely dropped, by 14% (405 in 2019 and 347 in 2020), despite the months of strict home confinement in spring and mobility restrictions in autumn and winter. The reason is to be found in the high accident rate in summer.

Snow is still a risk

"May is a month of transition, in which winter activities are mixed with canyoners and hikers, not without dangers", explains Second Lieutenant Fernando Navarro, head of the Greim in Aragon. The snow still covers the peaks, there are still snowfields in the shady areas and the ravines have a considerable flow of ice water due to the thawing of the snow. In fact, on the 8th, four mountaineers were injured by an avalanche in Benasque, and the collapse of a snow ledge caused another accident in Panticosa. "Above 2,800 metres there is still quite a lot of snow," he points out, something that may surprise hikers, as happened in Peña Nebera (Villanúa), where the helicopter evacuated a young man who had no ice axe or crampons and when he reached a certain altitude he was unable to continue and gave warning, fearing that he would slip and fall.

nieve-en-uno-de-los-caminos-del-parque-nacional-de-ordesa-que-permanece-cerrado-por-el-peligro.jpeg



A body that the mountain has not yet returned

On the other hand, with the onset of good weather and the thaw, the Guardia Civil plans to resume the search for the 37-year-old English hiker Esther Dingley, who disappeared at the end of November on the Salvaguardia peak (Benasque). The search carried out in this area, later extended to cover a wider perimeter, was interrupted by the first snowfall.

In the practices carried out by the Guardia Civil specialists in this area over the last few months, they have been on the lookout for any clues. The same applies to the helicopter, when flying over the area. "As soon as the snow disappears, a more specific search will be carried out," sub-lieutenant Fernando Navarro, head of the Greim said.

Dingley's partner recently met with the Spanish and French rescue units and they confirmed the restart of the operation, "with all possible efforts", when the area is cleared of snow so that it can be effective and thorough, according to Daniel Colegate.


BBM
 
El final del estado de alarma dispara los rescates de montaña y se teme otro verano accidentado

End of state of alarm sees mountain rescues soar and fears of another summer with many accidents

Rescues fell by only 14% in 2020, despite confinements, with record numbers in August of four a day.
The abundance of snow and the strong waters in the canyons have already caused one death and 14 injuries this month.


The death of a canyoner who drowned in Torla and the serious accident of a skier who fell 200 metres down a snowy slope on the descent of the Aneto have set off the first warning signals. The increase in mobility at the end of the state of alarm, on 9 May, has already begun to be felt in the Aragonese mountains with an increase in rescues in May. The first fatality has been recorded since August 2020 and 14 people have been injured, in what seems a foretaste of what is to come in summer, if the trend of 2020 is confirmed, a year with more tourists in nature destinations, considered safe, and with a new profile of more inexperienced visitor.

During the first year of the pandemic, the number of rescues barely dropped, by 14% (405 in 2019 and 347 in 2020), despite the months of strict home confinement in spring and mobility restrictions in autumn and winter. The reason is to be found in the high accident rate in summer.

Snow is still a risk

"May is a month of transition, in which winter activities are mixed with canyoners and hikers, not without dangers", explains Second Lieutenant Fernando Navarro, head of the Greim in Aragon. The snow still covers the peaks, there are still snowfields in the shady areas and the ravines have a considerable flow of ice water due to the thawing of the snow. In fact, on the 8th, four mountaineers were injured by an avalanche in Benasque, and the collapse of a snow ledge caused another accident in Panticosa. "Above 2,800 metres there is still quite a lot of snow," he points out, something that may surprise hikers, as happened in Peña Nebera (Villanúa), where the helicopter evacuated a young man who had no ice axe or crampons and when he reached a certain altitude he was unable to continue and gave warning, fearing that he would slip and fall.

nieve-en-uno-de-los-caminos-del-parque-nacional-de-ordesa-que-permanece-cerrado-por-el-peligro.jpeg



A body that the mountain has not yet returned

On the other hand, with the onset of good weather and the thaw, the Guardia Civil plans to resume the search for the 37-year-old English hiker Esther Dingley, who disappeared at the end of November on the Salvaguardia peak (Benasque). The search carried out in this area, later extended to cover a wider perimeter, was interrupted by the first snowfall.

In the practices carried out by the Guardia Civil specialists in this area over the last few months, they have been on the lookout for any clues. The same applies to the helicopter, when flying over the area. "As soon as the snow disappears, a more specific search will be carried out," sub-lieutenant Fernando Navarro, head of the Greim said.

Dingley's partner recently met with the Spanish and French rescue units and they confirmed the restart of the operation, "with all possible efforts", when the area is cleared of snow so that it can be effective and thorough, according to Daniel Colegate.


BBM

"A body that the mountain has not yet returned...."

Poetic and majestic,
Ominous and austere...

JMO
 
From 2 hours ago:
"...Civil Guard officers who have been working on the ground will be supported by a helicopter from mid-June which have a permanent base in the town of Benasque where Esther had been staying before she vanished..."
"...
A woman judge based an hour's drive away from the Pyrenees village of Benasque in Boltana remains in charge of the Spanish judicial probe sparked by Esther's disappearance.

Maria Saenz Martinez has yet to approve the return of the camper van Esther had travelled to Spain in to her boyfriend..."
Police in the Pyrenees RESUME search for missing British hiker Esther Dingley | Daily Mail Online
 
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If the DM reporting is correct in the link above, I find it odd the Spanish judge in charge of the judicial probe has not yet approved the return of the camper van to DC.

My curiosity about this is deepened by the published photograph taken by the dog-walker of someone lying down in the camper. LE's explanation was the photograph depicted one of their own, conducting a search of the camper.

I found that explanation curious, particularly as the reclining figure appeared not to be wearing the customary protective clothing of a forensics investigator.

Perhaps the prevailing theory is Esther met with foul play on the mountain, but as the search for her has resumed, LE has reason to believe her body remains on the mountain.

I draw a blank when considering what reason/s the judge may have to disallow return of the camper van to DC, if not from a belief criminal activity is the probable cause for Esther's disappearance.

Or could it be the camper van remains with LE from their hope Esther's remains are found and a possible cause of death is determined?

Perhaps others here with more astute sleuthing skills will have some suggestions?
 
Police in the Pyrenees RESUME search for missing British hiker Esther Dingley | Daily Mail Online

Mr Lopez Ramos said: 'We have spent some time going into the mountains and seeing what the snow is like and looking at places where we think Esther could have had an accident.

'A helicopter has been assisting officers on the ground but we haven't found anything.

'The south face of the Pico Salvaguardia can now be hiked to the summit without any problem.

'That's one of the places we've looked because that's where we know Esther made her last contact with her boyfriend and we haven't found any clues that help us get any closer to finding her.

'There's still snow on the north side near the summit on what would be the French side so nothing can be ruled out there for the moment.

'The snow there could take a month to melt but it's impossible to give a precise date.'


He added: 'Our busiest period of the year when we have to carry out most rescues is about to begin and we won't be able to search for Esther systematically like we did at the beginning because of the resources we have and the fact that it would make no sense to repeat searches of possible accident locations which have already been looked at several times.

'But we'll have a helicopter again here from June 19 and we'll use it to rule out areas whilst looking at others on foot that we know to be difficult and maybe haven't been searched as closely as the ones on the route Esther indicated she was going to take.

'The summer is the most likely time of the year when we'll get information that could help us because that's when most people are walking in the mountains.


BBM


A solid plan, IMO.
 
If the DM reporting is correct in the link above, I find it odd the Spanish judge in charge of the judicial probe has not yet approved the return of the camper van to DC.

My curiosity about this is deepened by the published photograph taken by the dog-walker of someone lying down in the camper. LE's explanation was the photograph depicted one of their own, conducting a search of the camper.

I found that explanation curious, particularly as the reclining figure appeared not to be wearing the customary protective clothing of a forensics investigator.

Perhaps the prevailing theory is Esther met with foul play on the mountain, but as the search for her has resumed, LE has reason to believe her body remains on the mountain.

I draw a blank when considering what reason/s the judge may have to disallow return of the camper van to DC, if not from a belief criminal activity is the probable cause for Esther's disappearance.

Or could it be the camper van remains with LE from their hope Esther's remains are found and a possible cause of death is determined?

Perhaps others here with more astute sleuthing skills will have some suggestions?


It is up to the judge to decide this. We can only guess what the considerations may be. IMO since it is legally unclear what happened to Esther, the judge may decide to keep the van for the time being.
Once an accident is confirmed (if and when), the judge may release the van, but then this could take a while due to red tape and bureaucracy.
AFAIK, no one urgently needs this van, and there is no hurry.
 
The use of helicopters is expensive. I wonder they can use drones at those altitudes.

The helicopter is de quickest way to get up in the mountains. A SAR team is far more effective with a helicopter than without.

Long distance drones are being used, here is an example of the GREIM working together with volunteer drone pilots, with drones with thermal cameras. This was the case of a Mexican man who went missing in Huesca:

http://aidronix.com/documentos/Search Of Jesus Rios With Drones in Spain - Tuesday August 6th 2019.pdf

If you see the name GAM (company) next to GREIM, the SAR teams are working with drones.
 
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Se retoma la búsqueda de la montañera inglesa perdida hace 7 meses en Benasque

The search for the English hiker who went missing seven months ago in Benasque has been resumed.

The Guardia Civil has returned to search, on foot and by air, the area where she disappeared. From Saturday, they will be assisted by a second rescue helicopter.



Esther Dingley disappeared on the Salvaguardia peak at the end of November while on a solo hike.

Seven months after her disappearance, the Guardia Civil has reactivated the search for the English hiker Esther Dingley, who went missing on 22 November 2020 in the Benasque valley. The Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (Greim) of this municipality spent last week searching the Salvaguardia peak, from where she sent her last whatsapp message, and the La Glera pass. The air unit has also flown over the area, but in both cases without result, as confirmed by the senior sergeant of the Greim, Jorge López Ramos.

Dingley's relatives were in Benasque a few days ago and received information about the operation. The motorhome with which the 37-year-old Englishwoman, a well-known travel blogger, was travelling alone through the Pyrenees and which she left parked on the public road, is still there. The vehicle is at the disposal of the courts. The main hypothesis of the investigation carried out by the Guardia Civil, including the criminal investigation by the Judicial Police team, is that she suffered a mountain accident while on the route between the Salvaguardia peak, from where she sent a message to her partner, and the French refuge of Venasque.

The search was interrupted at the beginning of December with the first snowfalls, and was resumed when the snow disappeared from the peaks. The mountain specialists scoured the peak of Salvaguardia and the La Glera pass, on the route back from France to Spain. According to Sergeant López Ramos, "the whole area has already been checked, but now the most dangerous points where she could have fallen have been reviewed."

In fact, last November, when no trace of her whereabouts appeared on the Salvaguardia peak (2,736 metres), the perimeter was extended to neighbouring valleys such as Literola or Remuñé, and to the mountain lakes of Cregüeña or Alba.

The head of the Benasque Greim is confident that the chances of finding any evidence will increase as the presence of mountaineers increases during the summer, unlike what happened when she disappeared. At that time there was strict confinement and the people of the valley could hardly move around in the area. In addition, the Guardia Civil will locate its tactical training exercises here to reinforce the search. And from next Saturday, they will be able to count on the support of the helicopter based in Benasque, which arrives in the province to reinforce the Huesca air unit during the summer months. The French rescue teams also plan to resume the search in July, once the snow, still present on the north face of the Salvaguardia, has melted.

Dingley was British but lived in France. She wrote in her blog that she crossed into Spain just before the confinement there because she felt safer in the mountains. "The infection rates are much lower. I hardly see anyone," she said.

Daniel Colegate, her partner, travelled to Spain two months ago. After meeting with rescue units, he said he was confident that the search would start again when the snow began to clear. "Unfortunately, due to the cold weather in April in the region, the higher altitude areas of Esther's route near the Salvaguardia peak remain under a thick blanket of snow," he said. He himself was exploring the area at that time, paying special attention to the forests near her route, possible alternative routes and also in Benasque.

"Although it is still very difficult for me to understand why Esther was not found in November if she had suffered an accident, a feeling that deepens with the time I spend in the area, I will keep looking because it is all I can do," he said.



BBM
 
El helicóptero de rescates de la Guardia Civil llega a Benasque

This Saturday, as every year, the Guardia Civil helicopter that provides the summer rescue service in Benasque will arrive. It will remain there until September. This unit is in addition to the helicopter based in Huesca which operates throughout the year.

It should be remembered that, since 2015, Benasque has had a hangar next to the Guardia Civil barracks where the aircraft is kept and is not exposed to the elements.

The presence of the aircraft will also allow it to be used, if necessary, in the search for Esther Dingley, the British-Dutch hiker who disappeared last November while on a tour of the Pyrenees. This week, once the snow has disappeared, an operation similar to those for any other disappearance was launched.


BBM
 
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