I grew up near the Sequoias in the San Joaquin Valley and later in life I lived in Flagstaff for 2 years, I am Curious if You also found it strange the first time going through northern Arizona and how the two Forests differed in The olfactory sense , ponderosa pines having very little smell to them compared to the very specific wonderful Smell in the sequoias of California and the Redwoods? I ask because I vividly remember how surprised I was, Me being ignorant in my youth, assumed that all Pine trees and forests would smell the same.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@AllGoodOutside There is certainly a difference. I think when the sun hits the sap of the ponderosa pines it really puts a powerful scent in the air. Combine that with some of the beautiful red rock in the area and it becomes a pretty surreal place. I'm so familiar with the misty forests of the PNW, that it's always a pleasure to visit a place that's so different.
The effort in hiking the location to bring us there, the hand-made artwork, the music selection, the writing, diction / narration, respect shown towards the subjects, and then the care put in to put all of these pieces together in a well reasoned and thoughtful documentary ... you are a shining gem in a genre filled with low effort, repetitive, AI generated slop. I admire the effort you put in to this - it is clearly a labor of love.
The fact that he actually traveled to the place Stacy dissapeared instead of just showing us picture from the internet , made this video that more special , i love the concept and I subscribed no question asked
Years ago, I was hunting in the mountains of Southern Oregon. I had spotted a bear down a ridge about 500 yards away . The bear went over a small ridge out of sight. I started down the ridge I was on, and it was loose dirt and loose rock . After I traveled about 60 yards downhill, I heard noise coming from behind and above me . I turned around to see that part of the mountain was sliding down toward me. I started to run sidehill, but the dirt and rocks, which the rocks were gravel size to 3 feet, boulders hit my legs and was pulled downhill. 300 yards later, I was buried up to my hips. I had a heck of a time getting my legs unburied . After almost 30 minutes, I got my legs loose from the compacted dirt and rock. I thought to myself , what if it would have covered me completely? Ever since then, I have thought that maybe some of the people who have disappeared in the wilderness have been buried by slides like what happened to me.
What a terrifying experience! I’m glad you were able to dig yourself out! You could be right. I’ve never considered anything along those lines in these cases. Thank you for sharing your experience.
He features a similar fate regarding different hikers in another video. In 2 cases rockslides hid most of the body barely leaving parts of a shoe uncovered. A 3rd deceased hiker was discovered by accident. One had been missing for nearly 50 years. It makes for fascinating reading. I'm glad you were able to get yourself out and survived.
Thank you for profiling Stacy. I asked you to do so in an email 2 years ago and you promised that you would. You’re a man of your word. As the father of daughters, this disappearance troubles me the most.
Stacy was a friend of mine when I grew up, in fact we grew up across the street from each other and spent our summers running around the neighborhood together. We went through CCD together as well, and walked to school every day together. We spent our days climbing trees, making forts, collecting pollywogs, picking berries, all the things kids used to do in the early 80’s, before Saratoga was overrun. Kids back then were a lot more independent and most of us spent a lot of time at Yosemite which was just a few short hours drive away. She was very familiar with the out of doors, it makes no sense she would’ve wandered off and gotten lost. As the baby of the family she was doted on and she had a very loving family. I can’t imagine what could have happened to her, it is sad to think how much life she’s missed out on. Her mother ended up dying of heartbreak due to the stress of not knowing where her baby was.
Did you know gerald? Since he lived in Saratoga too? What is your personal opinion on what happened to her? I'm very sorry for your loss. I'm glad you have wonderful memories of her to look back on. Her poor mother. I feel like not knowing where your child is or what happened is the worst thing that could happen to you. My condolences to everyone who loved her.
@@WhitneyDahlin I didn’t know Gerald but I knew her family fairly well. Her mom used to babysit us after school. I have no idea what happened to her, it’s crazy they never found anything other than a lens cap
This reminds me of a warning I was given by a ranger in the late 80's: Stand still to take pictures, many fatal accidents are from people walking while looking through the viewfinder.
Yeah, she just fell into an invisible hole and disappeared. It happens all the time with those invisible holes in the ground that nobody else can find or see.
Seems like people overlook how often someone might go off trail quite far to simply relieve themselves. During the day if you’re thinking another hiker might come up on you, even your own group. Especially a teenaged girl hiking with a much older man she didn’t apparently know well. She might have been embarrassed enough to walk quite a way off trail to have some privacy and gotten hurt or lost. It’s always the first thing I think when people are questioning why anyone would go off trail. I had a coworker who’s uncle disappeared off trail in a place with steep drop offs after telling his companions he needed to relieve himself. They never found him but it seemed likely he lost his footing and slid down the side of the mountain. A coworker of my mom’s died while hiking in sight of his group. He was standing on a ledge that gave way. They saw him fall and knew where to look but never found his body as it was too inaccessible. Things like that can happen in an instant and if no one was there to see it, pretty much impossible to know where to search. I’m actually pretty open minded about big foot and aliens but every time I look at a missing person’s case involving being alone in nature, even for a short time, seems pretty obvious that most of them simply had a terrible but not mysterious accident.
Agree. I believe almost all are falls, and/or getting lost. I've been lost and it gave me massive amounts of energy, I probably traveled over 20 miles on random paths, and trails. That was in the Tahoe area.
When I was a kid we had a babysitter who walked away from camp to relieve himself and fell off of a high cliff. Though a hermit found him and he was rescued and patched up in the hospital he ended up dying after they released him because a blood clot broke loose and ended up on his heart.
Have they considered the possibility that she was killed by a bear or mountain lion? A mountain lion took a little boy in the San Bernardino mountains about 20 years ago. Everyone thought he was kidnapped, and his family plastered the area with wanted signs. A year later his skeletal remains were found not far from where he vanished. The coroner identified the cause of death as mountain lion attack.
Thanks! I was very impressed with your video. Your insights on the case and taking us to Yosemite to give us the opportunity to one get the mind set of the case on site, and two to give us viewers a visual visit to a park most of us will never be able to see in our lifetime. Very special experience I want to thank you for. So, thank you son. Great video and investigation of the case. Great job!
My take on Gerald is that Stacy's father didn’t want her going out alone and Gerald, who probably didn't even want to take a walk, was kind enough to say he'd go, just to prevent a spat. It was just one of those quick little blow ups. Stacy, like most teenagers, felt she didn't need looking after. I bet she walked quickly on purpose and Gerald couldn't keep up.I think she may have fallen into an awkward place and was either knocked out or killed, incapacitated so that she couldn't call out, her camera falling with her. Now that I can see the area, it would certainly be possible. Thank you for going the extra mile (literally!) and taking us along.
This guy just tries to make a living debunking David Paulides investigations.. Why can't the case clear a FOIA request? Only evidence found was the lens cap from her camera? Never a body or drop of blood?
I don't put much stock in D. Paulides (re 411). He exaggerates and tries to make things overly dramatic and mysterious. Some weird entities are in forest parks though but also lots of logical explanations. Plus animal attacks and serial killers unfortunately.
@@earnold1896 : If one were to run the numbers, it would reveal that the odds of someone going missing in the great outdoors, and national parks, and never being found, or found deceased, is literally 1 in 1,000,000 (one in a million). David Paulides sells sensationalism and I question his honesty and integrity. I remember one 411 case where he left the conclusion open-ended, and to the imagination of his audience, knowing full well that law enforcement suspected the mother of killing her young son at a different location, burrying his little body somewhere secret, and then staged his disappearance while camping. If David had told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, it wouldn't have raised any eyebrows. Sensationalism, intrigue, mystery, and fear sells books. I've been thinking about writing my own series called "Dismissing 411".
@@earnold1896 Davis paulides had a book to sell, that doesn't mean he believes his own bullshit. It's marketing, mysteries sell books. I think David gets a lot of flak for his approach, but honestly if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have anyone talking about these cases.
@@earnold1896 His history and body of work is exceptional as well as credible. This man has prolific output in books, movies, vlogs, movies, daily videos and countless guest appearances since he started his journey to investigate and enlighten the public. Stop hating.
This is one of the few channels I hit like in the opening moments. 2 reasons, I've never not enjoyed your videos, and It would be a disservice to forget to give you props for your hard work.
Though there are quite a lot of RUclipsrs who cover missing people in the wilderness, your videos stand out far above the rest because you go to the locations and hike them.
As someone into photography now and as a kid, I've generally leaned toward her disappearance being related to that. I visited a lot of parks and wilderness areas when I was younger and often left the trail to take photos. I generally didn't go far and usually had someone with me, but I often climbed rocks and hillsides to get a cool shot. It's completely believable Stacy could have done the same and fell somewhere where her body was hidden and unrecoverable.
Seeing the repetitive nature of the scenery as you made your way up, made me think that she just got plain lost. Would be VERY easy to do once off trail. I really appreciate you taking the time to return to the "scene of the crime". Makes things so much clearer.
To completely vanish, yeah. If she was lost and kept wandering you'd end up real far, and by nightfall could have hid for shelter and passed from exposure that would be extremely hard to find
@@ApathyBM but wouldnt she eventually be seen by a helicopter or SOMEONE, especially since theres so many lakes? she would have had a near infinite amount of water. although maybe not totally drinkable, i imagine she could still last longer than someone with absolutely nothing.
@@ApathyBM yea true, i just meant i figured she would be seen by air or people in those first days of the search where she would likely be wandering around lost.
@@Wentr-z yeah but you're ignoring the exposure part-- she could have died the first night, man. It can get really cold at night in Yosemite, like below freezing, even in summer.
You still don't show up on the algorithm. Even when I search "missing e-" I'm nothing on my search results. Even after searching "missing enigma" I have to scroll for down past way too many unrelated recommendations. That is a crime in of itself! Guys remember, don't watch without liking the video and just leave a random comment to nudge the algorithm. Your content is top quality
Love seeing a really interesting case I've seen on other channels covered by The Missing Enigma, knowing you'll do a really comprehensive job and give new perspective on a frankly baffling disappearance
I may have left a similar comment on one of your previous videos, but even if I did, it doesn’t matter because saying it twice is warranted. You are one of the very very few that as soon as I hit play, I hit like before ever viewing your video. I do that because I know that every video you put out is going to be filled with the most articulate & accurate research & presented in a manner like no other channel can do! It is truly a treat to watch subject matter so spot-on. Your talent & dedication is truly appreciated (right down to your narration)… You are what every content creator should strive to be!
Agreed. I love the ever so slight accent and slight gravel combined, and his timbre lands that "lure of the western wilds" atmosphere perfectly. But the best aspect is how he understands and thinks about what he's explaining. You can see the research and deliberation not only in the subjects but how he addresses each detail, angle, and theory. 👏
I love his expression when he's dealing with the paranormal stuff. He's trying so hard to be respectful, even with the more ridiculous notions. I picked up some of his techniques, but not rolling my eyes until I can see behind me, is a distant goal. 🙄 *See?!*
When I was a teenager growing up in the Colorado Rockies, I used to wander through the mountains wearing wildly inappropriate footware for the terrain all the time. The idea that a 14 year old would try to hike out there in flip-flops is absolutly in the realm of possibility.
I have a crystal spot in the mountains in Colorado. Couple Springs ago there was a storm coming over the ridge. 50ish degrees. Out of no where some methy guy is 100 yards below us. T shirt , jeans and flip flops.
I just had a flash of inspiration. As someone who was once a teenager, only a few years before this incident, I thought back to those days. And I realized a simple thing that isn't much talked about, but in those days many teenagers smoked marijuana. It was mentioned that she had been "in trouble" at home, and that was about the age many started smoking pot. I know many people enjoy to get high in the wilderness. And in that state of mind, it would be extremely easy to get lost, and not even notice it until an hour or two had passed. By then, you could be miles from anything you remember. I don't say this to denigrate her in any way. But i know from experience how things were in those days. And how teenagers thought. If you are thinking "people don't do that all alone", I can assure you that they do. Anyway, it makes sense to me.
I could see this. Tuck a joint in with your cigarettes, go off to find a secluded, private spot to smoke, get turned around or even stuck in someplace that was easy to get into but not out of... I tried hiking high once. It was a miserable experience and all I wanted to do was lie down. If Stacy was inexperienced, I could entirely see this at least being how she got lost/ended up not visible to searchers.
Well, she smoked cigarettes, so why not. Perhaps going off to photograph the lakes was an excuse to be alone. Perhaps she suggested the old guy sit and rest to get rid of him. In darkness, I think it'd be easy to get lost there as it all looks the same. If she'd stayed put once lost, she would have been found, but she panicked, and it made things worse for her.
@@SupremeWillisI’m not trying to argue but I disagree. You can definitely get lost if you’re high on Marijuana. Especially in the woods where everything around you looks the same. However i agree that the old man could be guilty or know more than he’s saying. Why would any good parent let their child wonder off with someone they don’t know or just met? I grew up in the 80’s and No it was not any more normal then it is today to allow such potential danger! Also, if they are refusing to release ALL information on the case then clearly they are hiding something! Someone knows what happened most likely because they should have found her alive or deceased. Who owns the land…I bet they know…
I’ve seen a lot of Stacy Arras documentaries! The Missing Enigma is the best one by far!!! Great job on this documentary! I know you put a helluva lot of effort, time, and work into doing this one! Thank you for all the work you do on these RUclips videos!!!
@@TesseractDome I just can’t believe how the hell all these people can disappear in these forests without a trace! Another thing, it’s amazing how people in this society of ours seem to accept these disappearances as something that just happens!!
Wow Nick, thanks for literally going the extra mile to show us firsthand the area she disappeared in 💯 I didn't realize how rough and rocky some of the terrain is, and the paths are much less defined than I would've thought. I can see how someone could easily go off path and get completely lost. There's a frustrating lack of information, and I only hope whatever happened to poor Stacy that she didn't suffer long 😞
Yes - most of the accounts make it sound like it was an open area with a short, easy trail to a lake, a trail that was visible in its entirety from the camp, and Stacy somehow was there on the path one second and vanished the next.
@@elizabethpemberton8445 One hypothesis.. is that she got abducted. Sure, a considerable amount of effort would be needed, and it wasn't a ransom.... so, if this guess is correct, she was probably sold.... alive.
Especially around lake #1, the path seems really undefined. Lots of flat rock surface. I can see somebody getting disoriented and heading off the trail.
@@marhawkman303 I think a human trafficker hunting down victims one at a time in the wilderness of Yosemite is an extraordinarily unlikely situation. Especially in the 80s, there were so many unsupervised teens running around in urban areas that you could pretty easily lure if that was your goal that I just can't see the point. I can't even think of a case where we know that has happened; can you? I think if someone abducted her, it would be much more likely that the immediate intent was an assault, with a murder happening to cover the crime. But even that sort of thing is extremely rare in wilderness locations simply because effort is high and opportunity low; it's much more likely that she simply got lost and ended up in a location where nobody managed to look because it's a huge and rugged wilderness.
@@FabricofTime Well... that last line you say is exactly WHY a trafficker might choose this. Sure, it's not easy to find targets, but odds are good people will just assume it was nature. In urban environments you gotta be super careful about witnesses.... and people won't just write it off as an accident. Obviously, it's physically difficult to be one of those traffickers, but... If you CAN do it... great. People might never even suspect the person was abducted.
I love you covering these cases that fall into the 411 cases and you realistically review what could have happened. The traveling to the location to better understand everything about the case plus a hikers point of view is excellent. This is the best combo of my interests of mysteries, missing persons who appear to have magically disappeared and coming up with theories that are plausible. Being respectful of the friends and families of those involved.
About Gerald, you have to remember it was 1981, 43 years ago. People really were a lot more trusting of strangers back then. We hadn't had 40 years of crime tv, and then 15 years of RUclips murder videos. It would not be that odd to trust a stranger, far more normal than today. Also kids were more independent. They barely had video games yet. They had no computers nor social media. They were more physically fit and braver. But if she wanted to run away, why not do it in the city? Out here she would have to find her way back.
Yep. In 1984 or 1985 I was driven 3 hours to a weekend camp (and back again) by a man from our church, just the two of us. I was about 14 and he was probably about 65. My parents arranged it. In retrospect it seems bizarre, but no one batted an eye. We had a nice conversation about school and his grandkids and such each way. No incidents of any kind.
@@elizabethpemberton8445my mom let me go to an LA Kings game in the early 90s with our landlord who she barely knew. We had only moved in about a year before. He had expensive tickets and the person who was supposed to go with him had to cancel, he didn’t want the tickets to go to waste, so he invited me. So random. My mom encouraged me to go. I was a 12 year old girl. People were definitely more trusting back then.
Right. My mother was born in -63, and in her early years, probably like 17-20 something like that, before she met my father, she hitchhiked alot,never had any problems.
if anybody was made to investigate mysterious disappearances, it was you I’m not sure if you do it all by yourself or if you have help either way, you have are awesome. Well thought out well spoken like I said you were made to do this so I really appreciate you, when I see one of your videos, it makes my day a lot better keep up the good work, man. I appreciate it!
I don't think a teenage girl who wanted to run away would do so in a huge national park, and I don't think a 70-something year old man could commit a murder in such a relatively short amount of time without leaving any evidence. My guess is she went off the trail, got lost, and wandered far away from the search areas.
I agree. She got lost. Maybe fell into something that hid her body. There’s no way a 70-something old man is going to kill someone and hide the body well enough that hundreds of searchers would not find. I’m 65 and in good shape. I don’t think I could do it.
I think you're extremely underestimating what a relatively in shape 70 yo outdoorsman could be physically capable of. Especially one who is possibly familiar with horses.
@@Hummerbird99 I guess if you think in that terrain she had enough time to get out of earshot and eventual light transmission, I think an assailant could hide a body.
Its crazy how undefined the paths are in america! Here in austria the paths are very clear and every few hundred meters on the trees you see the austrian frag basically guiding you. Thanks for the awesome video though! Never seen someone go and hike the trail for real.
Finally, a visual to go with the story of Stacy Arras. I think if she were simply lost, she would have heard them looking for her and would have been found. I tend to think something quick and catastrophic happened, like a fall or a slip into the lake. How random would it be for foul play to happen? It's a possibility...I know many of us are happy for this new perspective Nick, thank you.
I kinda wonder if she was helped to run away, and maybe they won't release the case file because she's still alive and under some kind of protection, or she met her end due to a group they have an ongoing investigation about, like a large gang of some sort.
@trustworthydan my dude, I've spent all 45 of my years living in rural areas, camping, backpacking, hunting and fishing. I've been to Wyoming, the Dakotas, and the Redwoods. I've been to Yosemite and have seen the Grand Canyon with my own 2 eyes. I've been to the Florida everglades and hunted upstate NY. I'm sorry buddy, but you CAN NOT comprehend the scale of the Grand Canyon without having seen it for yourself. But please, tell me more about how you don't need to experience something or have a frame of reference in order to fully comprehend it. 😕 My guess is that you're about 15 years old and you think you've seen and comprehend everything because you watched a video about it. Have a great day, son.
Okay, but she was in an open environment with good visibility and on the way up and not in dense bush where, just a few steps off the trail, you can no longer find the path.
The 80's were a different time. When we used to ride our bikes around the neighborhood it wasn't uncommon for older people we never met to invite us in for a glass of water or cookies or whatnot. Strangers were trusted alot more than they are today, especially older folks.
All these years since I heard about Stacy, I’ve always believed the lake was 500feet down a hill from their camp, I’ve read that over and over, you made the story much more clear, I’d also heard the only thing found was her camera lens cover, I’m thinking that wasn’t true either. Stacy could have easily gotten lost walking as far as she did. Well done video, I’ve learn facts I didn’t know all these years.
According to The Lore Lodge Channel on YT the discovery of the camera lens cover has never been confirmed and wasn’t part of this case until much later into her disappearance. The Lore Lodge does a great dive into this and many other disappearance cases.
@@AxtionMagThe Lore Lodge guy is insufferable. Also buys into right-wing conspiracy nonsense. TME is the opposite. Humility, facts and no ideological agenda.
This is just a generalized idea, as I am not familiar with the area. I think it's totally possible she could have stepped off trail to use the restroom and lost the trail. Hearing you talk about finding the second lake and not having a clearly defined trail, she could have ended up following a game trail that she thought might take her where she was trying to go. Great video!
Watching from Florida. Just got power back after Milton and waiting for Internet. I am very happy to have a new TME video to distract me. You are one of my favorite channels. I always appreciate when you go to the location. I really would like to see the camp site and the actual trail Stacy would have used. The lack of documentation from Yosemite is frustrating.
This case has fascinated me for so long! So glad you made a video on it because your research is always top notch, I can’t wait to learn all the details
@@LaoSoftware I don't see the relevance of the question. Her horse was with the other horses and went back home without her. She walked down to the lake.
What an outstanding channel and effort to get to the truth. I appreciate your measured, no nonesense approach to these cases. What a unique and valuable approach in taking the audience with you. Thank you!
I love the footage of you going out to the trails and places. That's my favorite part. It's so beautiful and it feels like I am out there with you. It's eerie though, thinking about someone going missing there and makes me feel sad and empathetic. I'm sure it takes a lot of your time and money on traveling. I can only encourage you to keep up the good work!
Aren’t you from WA? I am too. Born & raised but moved south several years ago. How cool it would’ve been to bump into you 😂 Love your channel, been following for some time now. You’re thorough, respectful, and easy to like. Thanks for all your hard work. It doesn’t go unnoticed!💛
I was on another unsuccessful search there almost exactly 7 years later. beginning on the 4th of July weekend of 1988 and also around Tuolumne Meadows. The search was for my best friend Tim Barnes, I am still in contact with his family. Would like to see research and coverage of it.
Thank you with all my heart for taking me to places of beauty I'd otherwise not be able to see. I also sketch for relaxation and looking at your drawings inspire me. Be safe Nick, you are a very special soul ❤
One thing worth mentioning is that the criminal investigations unit of the NPS was only five years old at the time of this case. The three investigators at Yosemite were the first in the entire NPS system and if I recall, were drawn internal from rangers and administrators rather than people with law enforcement background.
This is probably very relevant to this case. My own personal thoughts are more to do with the family situation and that may be a very difficult thing to investigate by a new organization, particularly if they are overburdened with other cases.
Thanks for this. As someone who moved from California central coast to the mountains below Yosemite I really appreciate the rational treatment of this. People just don’t realize what they are getting into. Many people are used to hiking temperate, low elevation areas and have no idea what it’s like out here. From radical temp changes, altitude changes and weather changes, so much can go wrong and it’s very very easy to get lost, especially going down hill and zoning out and making better time than you realize. Alternatively going uphill or in general being exhausted also makes it easier to get lost. I’ve been there. People don’t bring enough water or snacks to sustain themselves, and they just have no idea what they are doing and it’s unfortunate and sad but it’s almost never incomprehensible. Last year I broke my ankle: and all I could think was that if I had been alone on a trail and if people couldn’t hear me before an animal did I wouldn’t have made it, of that I’m convinced.
Ambers, agree. I lived in Paso Robles once. Made many trips to Yosemite for horse back camping. It's HUGE and RUGGED and trees fall over, granite is slippery and it gets so COLD at night. Cold enough to make the horses shiver so I always brought their blankets. ANYTHING can happen and when you're by yourself, it can be dangerous. She probably fell...
I SO needed a distraction this evening - perfect timing! Thank you Missing Enigma - I couldn't be more grateful and I love it when you go 'into the wild'! (edit: 28:39 😂😂😂)
To be fair, if I worked with the park service and a certain author came asking about case files, I'd probably want to tell him to get lost, and potentially where he can shove his books. I don't know what all those pages could be comprised of--but I guess it's a possibility that they are type-written so maybe all 500 of those interviews get their own page even if it was two questions? I still think the simplest explanation (and a very plausible one) is that she simply left the trail and got lost, especially if she was alone and looking for a vantage point for a picture. It's so hard to even speculate unless you see the area where the disappearance took place. Your videos are so educational and I love that they shed light on these missing 411 cases and the fact that they're...really not all that unexplainable. Keep up the great work!
Hey Nick, I thoroughly enjoy your content. I love how rationally you view all these cases and how you manage to find good explanations. Found you through your Yuba County 5 video and I am not leaving anytime soon.
You sir, are the man! I’m relaxing at home and didn’t know what I wanted to watch. Then, I see a new video by Missing Enigma. It is a good day today :)
Despite years of experience in the backcountry, I once hiked a short distance from my camp on Pikes Peak, back toward the Barr Trail, and became totally disoriented. You feel stupid and then panic starts to creep in. Two factors--both the overcast sky and the flat, mixed forest terrain appeared the same in all directions, despite the trail, and I had not chosen any "landmarks". I hiked up and down the trail until I found the distance markers, then hiked in a widening spiral bisected by the trail to find my tent again. As Nick says, you can be lead astray easily, especially if you don't know which direction along a trail you are looking.
From my experience it’s a hard area to get lost in but not impossible. But it’s a really easy area to get injured in those rocks and lose dirt and gravel on rocks make it so easy to slip. My guess is bad fall but this definitely has a chance of foul play.
Yeah, I've seen people question Gerald's account, and... well.. if that's the ONLY evidence... we don't really have ANY physical evidence. One of the darker theories is that Gerlad helped someone kidnap her. and she's just about the ideal age. old enough to be physically mature or close to it, but barely old enough to look like a woman.
@marhawkman303 there's no way they took her off the mountain. If it was foul play she's still out there and her camera is sitting in some old dudes garage.
The best "411" disappearance and investigative channels on the internet. People ask why he doesn't cover paranormal cases. He investigates so logically and without bias that these "paranormal" cases are usually revealed as simple misadventures once he explains the facts.
Exceptionally well-made/paced/produced. Thank you for the dignity towards the missing person, as well as the thought-provoking possibilities. I've only hiked in granite-rich areas like this, twice in my life and nearly turned my ankle right out of the van, even with a hiking stake. You have to watch the ground continually, if you don't want anything broken and your fellow hikers to have to carry you out on a homemade stretcher.
Your videos serve an important service to bring continued attention to these cases. They also serve to make people think about their personal safety. I am not saying missing people did anything wrong or were not paying attention to their surroundings. It only means to be vigilant and try to practice safety measures especially when out in the wilderness.
Paulidies is just such a good storyteller, back when he was all over coast2coast he was captivating audiences with this interesting somewhat new phenomena of people going missing. He really made people look past the idea of them simply becoming lost out there because he's an amazing speaker! When Nick goes out on location and when you actually get a glimpse of the size, the vastness of these places you become so much more aware that it probably isn't that unusual for dogs not to be picking up a scent, or that dozens of ground searchers found nothing. It's crazy how big these places are and how small a single person is amongst it
I subbed to DP's channel for about two weeks. He is cringe. He can't speak worth a shit. When he gets worked up, he starts talking like Mickey Mouse ffs. The only thing he did, was try to reel in the gullible into believeing his '411' nonsense.
Been watching you since the beginning. I work off for 28 days at a time and on 12 hr shifts away from home and your videos are a staple to listen to when I’m passing the time.
It looks pretty easy to get off trail around there. I believe after taking some pics of the lake she headed back to what she thought was the right direction, but it was not. She couldn't find the trail and kept hiking in the wrong direction. She eventually hiked her way out into nowhere and never found her way back. She was 14 and not very "outdoors wise" as evidence by wanting to wear flip flips on a 3 mile rt hike in that area. Instead of staying put when she realized she was lost she most likely panicked and just kept walking her way further and further away. How fat can an able bodied 14 yr old walk if their life depended on it? Pretty damn far I promise you. They may find her remains someday and wouldn't be surprised if it was well over 20 miles away from those lakes.
I'm thinking the same thing. Or that she climbed up somewhere to get a view and fell. It can be very hard to find bodies of people who fall off of cliffs or rocky slopes, and her body was hidden from direct view and was quickly scavenged by animals and her clothing long since rotted away. Only the camera and maybe her boots might last this long. It's sad - she was so young. If she fell, the end was probably quick, but if she got lost she might have suffered for days before dying of exposure.
I am 52, almost 53, and I can walk 14 miles in a day. I have done 18 miles a few times. So if I can do that she probably could too, especially since adrenaline gives you tons of energy. Once you realize you are lost and the fear response kicks in than you can run on adrenaline... Which gives you the ability to go even farther.
When it comes to respecting the deceased or the missing, you are number one. I love this channel and your videos because of that. There are a lot of channels that do the opposite and I cant condone that by being a viewer. I bet the majority of your viewers feel that way and that's why we are here. Keep on producing great videos like you do, your audience will be here patiently waiting for the next one.
Hey 👋🏼 Great work. I was 17 in 1979 and worked in Yosemite for a summer. At that time many employees also traveled parks, we lived in tent cabins and from bus drivers to house cleaners- there were drugs and alcohol. Some great people and some sketch. When I left that valley, I never wanted to go back. Park is all in for 💰💰💰at that time-
Being interested in these mysterious disappearances that for some reason mostly happen in the USA and listen to many different researchers this is the only channel I can give a thumbs up before a word has been spoken. Greetings from The Netherlands ..😊These drawings are much appreciated too…well done!!! So weird that Stacy was not found with so many people and resources searching for this girl..her family must still suffer from disappearance. Its extra special that this good man gives the listener a face to the story by going to the places where these events happened.
This happens anywhere there is vast forests with no people. The reason you only here about american disappearances is because you're on American website and we don't know the international stories. Thats the true wilderness not some Dutch pasture you take inherit risks when exploring the natural world.
I mean we just don’t hear much from non American sources not that they don’t exist. The idea of making videos on these disappearances aren’t really that common outside of certain groups and it is a niche
@@bruderschweigen6889 I am not sure about that. Of course there are some 350 million americans compared to the 18 million dutch....But still, something is going on, many people get missing in US cities too
Really respect the fact that you visit these places to provide B roll and experience of the place. So many people do far less or even apply make up of all things while discussing true crimes.
I’ve spent nearly my entire life in California and haven’t been to Yosemite in 20 years. Props on the lengths you went to producing this content. Amazing!
I definitely think foul play is what happened here. I agree in most cases, Occams's razor can be applied. I don't believe it applies here. I have a lot of experience in hiking in remote places, I was Infantry, in the military, and I do a lot of remote gold prospecting. I completely agree that it is extremely easy to get lost or overwhelmed or underestimate the dangers of the wilderness. It's extremely vast. The problem i have with the simplest explanation here. That of her getting lost or injured doesn't add up. The facts we do have don't support that. That the evidence of the NPS strange and secretive behavior, it still being considered a "investigation". If she simply got lost or fell, Where is she, why has nothing been found? Like her mom said, something would have been found eventually, especially after 40 years. Consider the case of Jesse Capen, left his camp in the Superstition mountains, and disappeared. His body was eventually found. He walked outside of camp in the dark and fell into a crevasse. He was eventually found though. I think that the fact absolutely nothing of her has ever been found, in a very popular park is it's own clue. The 80s was a different time, people were more trusting. Today even Gerald or her own father could be suspects. Did the boots conversation really happen? We don't know because the NPS won't release any info. The problem is it could have been anybody, anyone could be a suspect. Even if she ran off, where is she? She still would have had to meet a ill fate like if she was hitch hiking. The NPS having a buddy buddy system or covering up a foul play in order to prevent panic, is not unrealistic. Keep in mind, in the 1980s there where 250 serial killers active. I think she deserves justice and unfortunately that won't ever happen until the NPS cooperates. As always love the video, hard work, attention to detail and professionalism. Also love the music. Excited for the next.
How many people are looking for her? How many people go where she would of fallen? And to me, most of all, how many people even know her body is, potentially, out there to be found? She didn't have a backpack orr anything that would last over the years.
Your channel is excellent, Nick! You go above and beyond! What a tragic story! I think Stacy got lost and fell into a ravine or down a steep trail or crevasse. This area is so wild and beautiful but, as we know, it's easy to get lost in the great outdoors. Stacy is only two years younger than me, poor girl. May her Soul find peace and love in Heaven. 💗🙏
Absolutely stunning video as usual. The narration, music, artwork, and the fact that you actually go out there so we can see the area where these disappearances happened. Good work and thank you. 😊
I clicked on this video as quickly as possible...cannot wait to hear your take on this infamous case!! 🕵♂️🌄🤔 Great work...05:10 great transition...great channel! xoxo
I watch a lot of RUclips of these types of stories and, without exaggeration, this video is the very best one I’ve seen on Missing 411. Superb job! Bravo 👏
The music for Lore Lodge is insufferable, I always skip it. This intro music on the other hand, I love. I play it on the guitar and my wife says it's eerie.
Really excellent! Thank you so much for taking us all to where Stacy disappeared. Written accounts of her disappearance do not do the vast wilderness of where she was justice. And you have such good insight into human nature. Keep giving us more videos!!
Go to buyraycon.com/TME for 20-50% off sitewide! Brought to you by Raycon.
7 days old comment? how?
I grew up near the Sequoias in the San Joaquin Valley and later in life I lived in Flagstaff for 2 years, I am Curious if You also found it strange the first time going through northern Arizona and how the two Forests differed in The olfactory sense , ponderosa pines having very little smell to them compared to the very specific wonderful Smell in the sequoias of California and the Redwoods? I ask because I vividly remember how surprised I was, Me being ignorant in my youth, assumed that all Pine trees and forests would smell the same.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@AllGoodOutside There is certainly a difference. I think when the sun hits the sap of the ponderosa pines it really puts a powerful scent in the air. Combine that with some of the beautiful red rock in the area and it becomes a pretty surreal place. I'm so familiar with the misty forests of the PNW, that it's always a pleasure to visit a place that's so different.
Haha "bigfoot tree break" love your sense of humor. I'm also from the great evergreen state.@TheMissingEnigma
At 8:57 there's a spooky face in the sky. It's subliminal messaging! This guy is an illuminati plant.
The effort in hiking the location to bring us there, the hand-made artwork, the music selection, the writing, diction / narration, respect shown towards the subjects, and then the care put in to put all of these pieces together in a well reasoned and thoughtful documentary ... you are a shining gem in a genre filled with low effort, repetitive, AI generated slop. I admire the effort you put in to this - it is clearly a labor of love.
Does he do the illustrations too? They really are extraordinary.
@@tillitsdoneI think it’s an app.
The artwork is good but it freaks me out sometimes lol like the Robot Grandma cover 😖
@@tillitsdone it is all done by him. It is not AI generated art like is so common these days
@rockstarofredondo it may be a drawn digitally but it is hand made still, not generated by an app. He's talked about this before on a few occasions.
The fact that he actually traveled to the place Stacy dissapeared instead of just showing us picture from the internet , made this video that more special , i love the concept and I subscribed no question asked
No need to visualize the topography. TME takes us there
Years ago, I was hunting in the mountains of Southern Oregon. I had spotted a bear down a ridge about 500 yards away . The bear went over a small ridge out of sight. I started down the ridge I was on, and it was loose dirt and loose rock . After I traveled about 60 yards downhill, I heard noise coming from behind and above me . I turned around to see that part of the mountain was sliding down toward me. I started to run sidehill, but the dirt and rocks, which the rocks were gravel size to 3 feet, boulders hit my legs and was pulled downhill. 300 yards later, I was buried up to my hips. I had a heck of a time getting my legs unburied . After almost 30 minutes, I got my legs loose from the compacted dirt and rock. I thought to myself , what if it would have covered me completely? Ever since then, I have thought that maybe some of the people who have disappeared in the wilderness have been buried by slides like what happened to me.
Nah it’s paranormal. There is too much high strangeness happening in our woods for natural causes to be the cause
What a terrifying experience! I’m glad you were able to dig yourself out! You could be right. I’ve never considered anything along those lines in these cases. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Dam. That’s crazy. Thanks for that. I spent time in Boone natl forest in Kentucky. never thought of it. raise a glass to your great escape. Daniel!
🍻🤙
He features a similar fate regarding different hikers in another video. In 2 cases rockslides hid most of the body barely leaving parts of a shoe uncovered. A 3rd deceased hiker was discovered by accident. One had been missing for nearly 50 years. It makes for fascinating reading. I'm glad you were able to get yourself out and survived.
Very good and valid point! Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you for profiling Stacy. I asked you to do so in an email 2 years ago and you promised that you would. You’re a man of your word. As the father of daughters, this disappearance troubles me the most.
Not being rude but I don’t think the video was made because of your email.
@@Music-oi2nf Ask Nick. You can't just know.
@@Music-oi2nfnot to be rude but be quiet
@@seanlamar29 no thanks Farty Breath
@@Music-oi2nf ok tard
Stacy was a friend of mine when I grew up, in fact we grew up across the street from each other and spent our summers running around the neighborhood together. We went through CCD together as well, and walked to school every day together. We spent our days climbing trees, making forts, collecting pollywogs, picking berries, all the things kids used to do in the early 80’s, before Saratoga was overrun. Kids back then were a lot more independent and most of us spent a lot of time at Yosemite which was just a few short hours drive away. She was very familiar with the out of doors, it makes no sense she would’ve wandered off and gotten lost. As the baby of the family she was doted on and she had a very loving family. I can’t imagine what could have happened to her, it is sad to think how much life she’s missed out on. Her mother ended up dying of heartbreak due to the stress of not knowing where her baby was.
Did you know gerald? Since he lived in Saratoga too? What is your personal opinion on what happened to her? I'm very sorry for your loss. I'm glad you have wonderful memories of her to look back on. Her poor mother. I feel like not knowing where your child is or what happened is the worst thing that could happen to you. My condolences to everyone who loved her.
Sorry for your loss of a dear friend. Govt being weird about her file makes me think it's more than we will ever be told. 😢
@@WhitneyDahlin I didn’t know Gerald but I knew her family fairly well. Her mom used to babysit us after school. I have no idea what happened to her, it’s crazy they never found anything other than a lens cap
One can be very familiar with the out of doors and still get lost… happens all the time.
2 VIDS IN 2 WEEKS?!?! HALLELUJAH! Thanks Nick!!! I appreciate all your hard work!
I was thinking the same thing!! 🤯
And me!❤🇳🇱
Yeah, impressive output considering the quality. And lovely footage
Considering we had to wait 3 months last time... Maybe he was working on several videos at the same time. 🤔
Agree! Cheers fren!!!
This reminds me of a warning I was given by a ranger in the late 80's: Stand still to take pictures, many fatal accidents are from people walking while looking through the viewfinder.
@norml.hugh-mann a woman fell from the grand canyon while on her phones camera
@norml.hugh-mann the quote still counts towards smart phones
@@Newjerseyblowseven more so!
People are just dumb and don’t pay attention to their surroundings and people rarely look up or down
Yeah, she just fell into an invisible hole and disappeared. It happens all the time with those invisible holes in the ground that nobody else can find or see.
Seems like people overlook how often someone might go off trail quite far to simply relieve themselves. During the day if you’re thinking another hiker might come up on you, even your own group. Especially a teenaged girl hiking with a much older man she didn’t apparently know well. She might have been embarrassed enough to walk quite a way off trail to have some privacy and gotten hurt or lost.
It’s always the first thing I think when people are questioning why anyone would go off trail. I had a coworker who’s uncle disappeared off trail in a place with steep drop offs after telling his companions he needed to relieve himself. They never found him but it seemed likely he lost his footing and slid down the side of the mountain.
A coworker of my mom’s died while hiking in sight of his group. He was standing on a ledge that gave way. They saw him fall and knew where to look but never found his body as it was too inaccessible. Things like that can happen in an instant and if no one was there to see it, pretty much impossible to know where to search.
I’m actually pretty open minded about big foot and aliens but every time I look at a missing person’s case involving being alone in nature, even for a short time, seems pretty obvious that most of them simply had a terrible but not mysterious accident.
U told us a story about your co worker uncle disappearing during a hike but didn't tell us his name? B's story😒
@bayg6703 lol but why would they just make up a fake story??
Agree. I believe almost all are falls, and/or getting lost. I've been lost and it gave me massive amounts of energy, I probably traveled over 20 miles on random paths, and trails. That was in the Tahoe area.
When I was a kid we had a babysitter who walked away from camp to relieve himself and fell off of a high cliff. Though a hermit found him and he was rescued and patched up in the hospital he ended up dying after they released him because a blood clot broke loose and ended up on his heart.
Have they considered the possibility that she was killed by a bear or mountain lion?
A mountain lion took a little boy in the San Bernardino mountains about 20 years ago. Everyone thought he was kidnapped, and his family plastered the area with wanted signs. A year later his skeletal remains were found not far from where he vanished. The coroner identified the cause of death as mountain lion attack.
Thanks! I was very impressed with your video. Your insights on the case and taking us to Yosemite to give us the opportunity to one get the mind set of the case on site, and two to give us viewers a visual visit to a park most of us will never be able to see in our lifetime. Very special experience I want to thank you for. So, thank you son. Great video and investigation of the case. Great job!
My take on Gerald is that Stacy's father didn’t want her going out alone and Gerald, who probably didn't even want to take a walk, was kind enough to say he'd go, just to prevent a spat. It was just one of those quick little blow ups. Stacy, like most teenagers, felt she didn't need looking after. I bet she walked quickly on purpose and Gerald couldn't keep up.I think she may have fallen into an awkward place and was either knocked out or killed, incapacitated so that she couldn't call out, her camera falling with her. Now that I can see the area, it would certainly be possible. Thank you for going the extra mile (literally!) and taking us along.
This guy is a genuine professional. Thanks for all the effort and excellent content. Always a pleasure. Wish you continued success
Well said! I absolutely concur!
This guy just tries to make a living debunking David Paulides investigations.. Why can't the case clear a FOIA request? Only evidence found was the lens cap from her camera? Never a body or drop of blood?
No, paulides is a professional. This guy is a clown.
@@gordongarrett6229 gordon, can you explain why you think the national park service is covering up bigfoot making all these people disappear?
@@gordongarrett6229 when you say these kinds of things you should at least take off that red rubber nose.
Really appreciate how you approach the "missing 411" phenomenon from a skeptical yet open minded perspective. Easily the best channel on the subject.
I don't put much stock in D. Paulides (re 411). He exaggerates and tries to make things overly dramatic and mysterious. Some weird entities are in forest parks though but also lots of logical explanations. Plus animal attacks and serial killers unfortunately.
@@earnold1896 : If one were to run the numbers, it would reveal that the odds of someone going missing in the great outdoors, and national parks, and never being found, or found deceased, is literally 1 in 1,000,000 (one in a million). David Paulides sells sensationalism and I question his honesty and integrity. I remember one 411 case where he left the conclusion open-ended, and to the imagination of his audience, knowing full well that law enforcement suspected the mother of killing her young son at a different location, burrying his little body somewhere secret, and then staged his disappearance while camping. If David had told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, it wouldn't have raised any eyebrows. Sensationalism, intrigue, mystery, and fear sells books. I've been thinking about writing my own series called "Dismissing 411".
@@earnold1896 Davis paulides had a book to sell, that doesn't mean he believes his own bullshit. It's marketing, mysteries sell books. I think David gets a lot of flak for his approach, but honestly if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have anyone talking about these cases.
@earnold1896 If you investigate his "historical" cases from a century ago, a number of times you find him straight up lying.
@@earnold1896 His history and body of work is exceptional as well as credible. This man has prolific output in books, movies, vlogs, movies, daily videos and countless guest appearances since he started his journey to investigate and enlighten the public. Stop hating.
This is one of the few channels I hit like in the opening moments. 2 reasons, I've never not enjoyed your videos, and It would be a disservice to forget to give you props for your hard work.
Me too
@@jeremyporter5540 Me throo lol
I concur!!!
I just hit it!
Though there are quite a lot of RUclipsrs who cover missing people in the wilderness, your videos stand out far above the rest because you go to the locations and hike them.
And you get a better idea of how easy it would be to get lost or hurt and no one would find you..
You should team up with Dave paulides
@AbhorSHUN1 I don't think he would like that.
@@TheMissingEnigmathere's something just slightly off about him - I think he means well, but still...
@@victorialawhon2251yes, he’s creepy and illogical
As someone into photography now and as a kid, I've generally leaned toward her disappearance being related to that. I visited a lot of parks and wilderness areas when I was younger and often left the trail to take photos. I generally didn't go far and usually had someone with me, but I often climbed rocks and hillsides to get a cool shot. It's completely believable Stacy could have done the same and fell somewhere where her body was hidden and unrecoverable.
Seeing the repetitive nature of the scenery as you made your way up, made me think that she just got plain lost. Would be VERY easy to do once off trail.
I really appreciate you taking the time to return to the "scene of the crime". Makes things so much clearer.
To completely vanish, yeah. If she was lost and kept wandering you'd end up real far, and by nightfall could have hid for shelter and passed from exposure that would be extremely hard to find
@@ApathyBM but wouldnt she eventually be seen by a helicopter or SOMEONE, especially since theres so many lakes? she would have had a near infinite amount of water. although maybe not totally drinkable, i imagine she could still last longer than someone with absolutely nothing.
@@Wentr-z Not if she died hiding under something like a fallen log
@@ApathyBM yea true, i just meant i figured she would be seen by air or people in those first days of the search where she would likely be wandering around lost.
@@Wentr-z yeah but you're ignoring the exposure part-- she could have died the first night, man. It can get really cold at night in Yosemite, like below freezing, even in summer.
You still don't show up on the algorithm. Even when I search "missing e-" I'm nothing on my search results. Even after searching "missing enigma" I have to scroll for down past way too many unrelated recommendations. That is a crime in of itself! Guys remember, don't watch without liking the video and just leave a random comment to nudge the algorithm. Your content is top quality
i haven't seen his videos either. i have to search for them
Turn on your notifications
Love seeing a really interesting case I've seen on other channels covered by The Missing Enigma, knowing you'll do a really comprehensive job and give new perspective on a frankly baffling disappearance
Still Yosemite won't give any info on her disappearance
Thanks! You're the best, Nick. Hope this small contribution helps in some way. All the best to you and yours - Cort
I may have left a similar comment on one of your previous videos, but even if I did, it doesn’t matter because saying it twice is warranted. You are one of the very very few that as soon as I hit play, I hit like before ever viewing your video. I do that because I know that every video you put out is going to be filled with the most articulate & accurate research & presented in a manner like no other channel can do! It is truly a treat to watch subject matter so spot-on. Your talent & dedication is truly appreciated (right down to your narration)… You are what every content creator should strive to be!
One of the best voices, with the best syntax and diction of all youtube documentarians.
Couldn't agree more. This Nick guy is a natural.
Hey this is a family friendly channel
Agreed. I love the ever so slight accent and slight gravel combined, and his timbre lands that "lure of the western wilds" atmosphere perfectly. But the best aspect is how he understands and thinks about what he's explaining. You can see the research and deliberation not only in the subjects but how he addresses each detail, angle, and theory. 👏
I love his expression when he's dealing with the paranormal stuff. He's trying so hard to be respectful, even with the more ridiculous notions. I picked up some of his techniques, but not rolling my eyes until I can see behind me, is a distant goal. 🙄 *See?!*
Such a dapper, timeless gentleman.
When I was a teenager growing up in the Colorado Rockies, I used to wander through the mountains wearing wildly inappropriate footware for the terrain all the time. The idea that a 14 year old would try to hike out there in flip-flops is absolutly in the realm of possibility.
I walked the decks of Old Ironsides, an ancient battleship, barefooted in 1975. I was 14
I have a crystal spot in the mountains in Colorado. Couple Springs ago there was a storm coming over the ridge. 50ish degrees. Out of no where some methy guy is 100 yards below us. T shirt , jeans and flip flops.
I totally wore jelly sandals everywhere when I was 13. Still seems unlikely that she walked out...
I wear flip flops all the time everywhere so yeah totally plausible.
jeezycreezy, yep, I did the same.
I just had a flash of inspiration. As someone who was once a teenager, only a few years before this incident, I thought back to those days. And I realized a simple thing that isn't much talked about, but in those days many teenagers smoked marijuana. It was mentioned that she had been "in trouble" at home, and that was about the age many started smoking pot. I know many people enjoy to get high in the wilderness. And in that state of mind, it would be extremely easy to get lost, and not even notice it until an hour or two had passed. By then, you could be miles from anything you remember.
I don't say this to denigrate her in any way. But i know from experience how things were in those days. And how teenagers thought. If you are thinking "people don't do that all alone", I can assure you that they do.
Anyway, it makes sense to me.
I could see this. Tuck a joint in with your cigarettes, go off to find a secluded, private spot to smoke, get turned around or even stuck in someplace that was easy to get into but not out of...
I tried hiking high once. It was a miserable experience and all I wanted to do was lie down. If Stacy was inexperienced, I could entirely see this at least being how she got lost/ended up not visible to searchers.
Well, she smoked cigarettes, so why not. Perhaps going off to photograph the lakes was an excuse to be alone. Perhaps she suggested the old guy sit and rest to get rid of him. In darkness, I think it'd be easy to get lost there as it all looks the same. If she'd stayed put once lost, she would have been found, but she panicked, and it made things worse for her.
Marijuana doesn’t make you lose track of where you are and no ever expects the old man if anything it was him
@@SupremeWillisI’m not trying to argue but I disagree. You can definitely get lost if you’re high on Marijuana. Especially in the woods where everything around you looks the same. However i agree that the old man could be guilty or know more than he’s saying. Why would any good parent let their child wonder off with someone they don’t know or just met? I grew up in the 80’s and No it was not any more normal then it is today to allow such potential danger! Also, if they are refusing to release ALL information on the case then clearly they are hiding something!
Someone knows what happened most likely because they should have found her alive or deceased. Who owns the land…I bet they know…
Interesting theory for why she didn't simply wait when the elderly man got tired
Love that you take us to the places that the missing persons went missing. Gives us a feel of the location and terrain. Beautiful place. Thank you😊❤
I’ve seen a lot of Stacy Arras documentaries! The Missing Enigma is the best one by far!!! Great job on this documentary! I know you put a helluva lot of effort, time, and work into doing this one! Thank you for all the work you do on these RUclips videos!!!
@@TesseractDome I just can’t believe how the hell all these people can disappear in these forests without a trace! Another thing, it’s amazing how people in this society of ours seem to accept these disappearances as something that just happens!!
Wow Nick, thanks for literally going the extra mile to show us firsthand the area she disappeared in 💯
I didn't realize how rough and rocky some of the terrain is, and the paths are much less defined than I would've thought. I can see how someone could easily go off path and get completely lost. There's a frustrating lack of information, and I only hope whatever happened to poor Stacy that she didn't suffer long 😞
Yes - most of the accounts make it sound like it was an open area with a short, easy trail to a lake, a trail that was visible in its entirety from the camp, and Stacy somehow was there on the path one second and vanished the next.
@@elizabethpemberton8445 One hypothesis.. is that she got abducted. Sure, a considerable amount of effort would be needed, and it wasn't a ransom.... so, if this guess is correct, she was probably sold.... alive.
Especially around lake #1, the path seems really undefined. Lots of flat rock surface. I can see somebody getting disoriented and heading off the trail.
@@marhawkman303 I think a human trafficker hunting down victims one at a time in the wilderness of Yosemite is an extraordinarily unlikely situation. Especially in the 80s, there were so many unsupervised teens running around in urban areas that you could pretty easily lure if that was your goal that I just can't see the point. I can't even think of a case where we know that has happened; can you?
I think if someone abducted her, it would be much more likely that the immediate intent was an assault, with a murder happening to cover the crime. But even that sort of thing is extremely rare in wilderness locations simply because effort is high and opportunity low; it's much more likely that she simply got lost and ended up in a location where nobody managed to look because it's a huge and rugged wilderness.
@@FabricofTime Well... that last line you say is exactly WHY a trafficker might choose this. Sure, it's not easy to find targets, but odds are good people will just assume it was nature.
In urban environments you gotta be super careful about witnesses.... and people won't just write it off as an accident.
Obviously, it's physically difficult to be one of those traffickers, but... If you CAN do it... great. People might never even suspect the person was abducted.
You have the best mystery channel by far and it’s not even close.
He should definitely have more followers than he does!!!
Mysterious WV is a good one also.
@@dannypriceii4154, yeah he's great too
all the footage of you walking through the trails makes me want to get back into hiking, its just so calming and peaceful
Until it's not...
I love you covering these cases that fall into the 411 cases and you realistically review what could have happened. The traveling to the location to better understand everything about the case plus a hikers point of view is excellent. This is the best combo of my interests of mysteries, missing persons who appear to have magically disappeared and coming up with theories that are plausible. Being respectful of the friends and families of those involved.
Wow, going all the way to Yosemite to visit the place she went missing is commitment and I really respect it.
About Gerald, you have to remember it was 1981, 43 years ago. People really were a lot more trusting of strangers back then. We hadn't had 40 years of crime tv, and then 15 years of RUclips murder videos. It would not be that odd to trust a stranger, far more normal than today. Also kids were more independent. They barely had video games yet. They had no computers nor social media. They were more physically fit and braver.
But if she wanted to run away, why not do it in the city? Out here she would have to find her way back.
Excellent points. You practically said what I was thinking.
Yep. In 1984 or 1985 I was driven 3 hours to a weekend camp (and back again) by a man from our church, just the two of us. I was about 14 and he was probably about 65. My parents arranged it. In retrospect it seems bizarre, but no one batted an eye. We had a nice conversation about school and his grandkids and such each way. No incidents of any kind.
Portable computers were available in 1982.
@@elizabethpemberton8445my mom let me go to an LA Kings game in the early 90s with our landlord who she barely knew. We had only moved in about a year before. He had expensive tickets and the person who was supposed to go with him had to cancel, he didn’t want the tickets to go to waste, so he invited me. So random. My mom encouraged me to go. I was a 12 year old girl. People were definitely more trusting back then.
Right. My mother was born in -63, and in her early years, probably like 17-20 something like that, before she met my father, she hitchhiked alot,never had any problems.
if anybody was made to investigate mysterious disappearances, it was you I’m not sure if you do it all by yourself or if you have help either way, you have are awesome. Well thought out well spoken like I said you were made to do this so I really appreciate you, when I see one of your videos, it makes my day a lot better keep up the good work, man. I appreciate it!
Bud, these videos are getting better and better.
I've trained him well.
Harrumph!@@Smoloko123
I don't think a teenage girl who wanted to run away would do so in a huge national park, and I don't think a 70-something year old man could commit a murder in such a relatively short amount of time without leaving any evidence. My guess is she went off the trail, got lost, and wandered far away from the search areas.
I agree. She got lost. Maybe fell into something that hid her body. There’s no way a 70-something old man is going to kill someone and hide the body well enough that hundreds of searchers would not find. I’m 65 and in good shape. I don’t think I could do it.
I think you're extremely underestimating what a relatively in shape 70 yo outdoorsman could be physically capable of. Especially one who is possibly familiar with horses.
@@ftf1987 So what did he do with the body in such a short time frame? Doesn't make sense.
@@Hummerbird99 I guess if you think in that terrain she had enough time to get out of earshot and eventual light transmission, I think an assailant could hide a body.
Its crazy how undefined the paths are in america! Here in austria the paths are very clear and every few hundred meters on the trees you see the austrian frag basically guiding you. Thanks for the awesome video though! Never seen someone go and hike the trail for real.
Shine on Stacey. If one is not familiar with terrain, it could end up bad. Stacey was very scared at some point
Always a good day when Nick uploads :)
Finally, a visual to go with the story of Stacy Arras. I think if she were simply lost, she would have heard them looking for her and would have been found. I tend to think something quick and catastrophic happened, like a fall or a slip into the lake. How random would it be for foul play to happen? It's a possibility...I know many of us are happy for this new perspective Nick, thank you.
The mystery here is that she completely vanished , nothing explains it at all
It looks like bear or Mountain Lion country. I doubt foul play. Beautiful photography.
Portal
I kinda wonder if she was helped to run away, and maybe they won't release the case file because she's still alive and under some kind of protection, or she met her end due to a group they have an ongoing investigation about, like a large gang of some sort.
You can't really comprehend the vastness, ruggedness and grandeur of Yosemite without having been there.
Yes you can. Not everyone lives in cities, some of us are accustomed to vast open spaces of undeveloped land.
@trustworthydan my dude, I've spent all 45 of my years living in rural areas, camping, backpacking, hunting and fishing.
I've been to Wyoming, the Dakotas, and the Redwoods. I've been to Yosemite and have seen the Grand Canyon with my own 2 eyes. I've been to the Florida everglades and hunted upstate NY.
I'm sorry buddy, but you CAN NOT comprehend the scale of the Grand Canyon without having seen it for yourself.
But please, tell me more about how you don't need to experience something or have a frame of reference in order to fully comprehend it. 😕
My guess is that you're about 15 years old and you think you've seen and comprehend everything because you watched a video about it.
Have a great day, son.
@@trustworthydanYosemite is more than just the Yosemite Valley scenery you’re used to seeing. The back country is vast.
Okay, but she was in an open environment with good visibility and on the way up and not in dense bush where, just a few steps off the trail, you can no longer find the path.
The 80's were a different time. When we used to ride our bikes around the neighborhood it wasn't uncommon for older people we never met to invite us in for a glass of water or cookies or whatnot. Strangers were trusted alot more than they are today, especially older folks.
I really appreciate you don't overly sensationalize these cases but still draw attention to odd elements in them
All these years since I heard about Stacy, I’ve always believed the lake was 500feet down a hill from their camp, I’ve read that over and over, you made the story much more clear,
I’d also heard the only thing found was her camera lens cover, I’m thinking that wasn’t true either.
Stacy could have easily gotten lost walking as far as she did.
Well done video, I’ve learn facts I didn’t know all these years.
According to The Lore Lodge Channel on YT the discovery of the camera lens cover has never been confirmed and wasn’t part of this case until much later into her disappearance. The Lore Lodge does a great dive into this and many other disappearance cases.
@@AxtionMagThe Lore Lodge guy is insufferable. Also buys into right-wing conspiracy nonsense. TME is the opposite. Humility, facts and no ideological agenda.
He (LL) is a bit insufferable..
@@AxtionMag I like Nicks channel, we can see the places these disappearance’s happened.
I do listen to lore lodge if the subject interests me.
@@AxtionMagAiden from LL has a brain like a computer, I'm always awestruck by how he remembers all those details, it's mind-blowing
This is just a generalized idea, as I am not familiar with the area. I think it's totally possible she could have stepped off trail to use the restroom and lost the trail. Hearing you talk about finding the second lake and not having a clearly defined trail, she could have ended up following a game trail that she thought might take her where she was trying to go.
Great video!
🤙
Killing it with quality and quantity of content. Good case too!
Easily the best missing person's channel on RUclips
Watching from Florida. Just got power back after Milton and waiting for Internet. I am very happy to have a new TME video to distract me. You are one of my favorite channels. I always appreciate when you go to the location. I really would like to see the camp site and the actual trail Stacy would have used. The lack of documentation from Yosemite is frustrating.
This case has fascinated me for so long! So glad you made a video on it because your research is always top notch, I can’t wait to learn all the details
So Stacy disappeared. What about her horse? Did it disappear too?
@@LaoSoftware
I don't see the relevance of the question. Her horse was with the other horses and went back home without her. She walked down to the lake.
This has to be one of the best channels of all time, every time I watch a video it's grappling and well produced. Much love man seriously.
What an outstanding channel and effort to get to the truth. I appreciate your measured, no nonesense approach to these cases. What a unique and valuable approach in taking the audience with you. Thank you!
She probably just lost the path while taking the photos, panicked and kept waking the wrong direction. You become disoriented very quickly.
Yes, very likely. But why couldn't dogs track her scent?
I love the footage of you going out to the trails and places. That's my favorite part. It's so beautiful and it feels like I am out there with you. It's eerie though, thinking about someone going missing there and makes me feel sad and empathetic.
I'm sure it takes a lot of your time and money on traveling. I can only encourage you to keep up the good work!
Aren’t you from WA? I am too. Born & raised but moved south several years ago. How cool it would’ve been to bump into you 😂 Love your channel, been following for some time now. You’re thorough, respectful, and easy to like. Thanks for all your hard work. It doesn’t go unnoticed!💛
I am pleasantly surprised to see another upload so soon, the video on Dale Stehling was great stuff.
I was on another unsuccessful search there almost exactly 7 years later. beginning on the 4th of July weekend of 1988 and also around Tuolumne Meadows. The search was for my best friend Tim Barnes, I am still in contact with his family. Would like to see research and coverage of it.
Thank you with all my heart for taking me to places of beauty I'd otherwise not be able to see. I also sketch for relaxation and looking at your drawings inspire me. Be safe Nick, you are a very special soul ❤
The music was truly excellent on this one. Kudos to the artist.
nick is the artist!
@@sappholilyof the music too?
@@sappholily really ?!
I loved it too
Yes! Thank you Nick! The one I’ve been waiting for!
One thing worth mentioning is that the criminal investigations unit of the NPS was only five years old at the time of this case. The three investigators at Yosemite were the first in the entire NPS system and if I recall, were drawn internal from rangers and administrators rather than people with law enforcement background.
This is probably very relevant to this case. My own personal thoughts are more to do with the family situation and that may be a very difficult thing to investigate by a new organization, particularly if they are overburdened with other cases.
Thanks for this. As someone who moved from California central coast to the mountains below Yosemite I really appreciate the rational treatment of this. People just don’t realize what they are getting into.
Many people are used to hiking temperate, low elevation areas and have no idea what it’s like out here. From radical temp changes, altitude changes and weather changes, so much can go wrong and it’s very very easy to get lost, especially going down hill and zoning out and making better time than you realize. Alternatively going uphill or in general being exhausted also makes it easier to get lost.
I’ve been there. People don’t bring enough water or snacks to sustain themselves, and they just have no idea what they are doing and it’s unfortunate and sad but it’s almost never incomprehensible.
Last year I broke my ankle: and all I could think was that if I had been alone on a trail and if people couldn’t hear me before an animal did I wouldn’t have made it, of that I’m convinced.
Ambers, agree. I lived in Paso Robles once. Made many trips to Yosemite for horse back camping. It's HUGE and RUGGED and trees fall over, granite is slippery and it gets so COLD at night. Cold enough to make the horses shiver so I always brought their blankets. ANYTHING can happen and when you're by yourself, it can be dangerous. She probably fell...
Best coverage of any missing person on the internet. I appreciate your work so much.
I’ve been bingeing your content lately while in hospital and now super geeked there’s a new episode .Ty so much from a huge fan up here in 🇨🇦
You like BWC?
@@Smoloko123 ? What’s that
Thanks for hiking the area
It always helps to visualize the places that you talk about 👍
On top of what it adds to analyzing the case, I also love getting a glimpse at the tranquil places that are the parks. Incredible scenes.
I SO needed a distraction this evening - perfect timing! Thank you Missing Enigma - I couldn't be more grateful and I love it when you go 'into the wild'! (edit: 28:39 😂😂😂)
I've been waiting for you to cover this one thanks always enjoy your videos!❤
For me, this is the best quality channel dealing with these topics. Thank you very much for your work. Absolutely top.
To be fair, if I worked with the park service and a certain author came asking about case files, I'd probably want to tell him to get lost, and potentially where he can shove his books. I don't know what all those pages could be comprised of--but I guess it's a possibility that they are type-written so maybe all 500 of those interviews get their own page even if it was two questions?
I still think the simplest explanation (and a very plausible one) is that she simply left the trail and got lost, especially if she was alone and looking for a vantage point for a picture. It's so hard to even speculate unless you see the area where the disappearance took place. Your videos are so educational and I love that they shed light on these missing 411 cases and the fact that they're...really not all that unexplainable. Keep up the great work!
Fascinating again. You are easily the best channel discussing unsolved disappearances. Your thoroughness is unmatched.
Hey Nick, I thoroughly enjoy your content. I love how rationally you view all these cases and how you manage to find good explanations. Found you through your Yuba County 5 video and I am not leaving anytime soon.
You sir, are the man! I’m relaxing at home and didn’t know what I wanted to watch. Then, I see a new video by Missing Enigma. It is a good day today :)
Really a big fan of the revisits to the actual sites. It is something not many in the same genre go as far to do, keep up the awesome work you do!🎉
Despite years of experience in the backcountry, I once hiked a short distance from my camp on Pikes Peak, back toward the Barr Trail, and became totally disoriented. You feel stupid and then panic starts to creep in. Two factors--both the overcast sky and the flat, mixed forest terrain appeared the same in all directions, despite the trail, and I had not chosen any "landmarks". I hiked up and down the trail until I found the distance markers, then hiked in a widening spiral bisected by the trail to find my tent again. As Nick says, you can be lead astray easily, especially if you don't know which direction along a trail you are looking.
Sounds like a life lesson buried in there.
From my experience it’s a hard area to get lost in but not impossible. But it’s a really easy area to get injured in those rocks and lose dirt and gravel on rocks make it so easy to slip. My guess is bad fall but this definitely has a chance of foul play.
Yeah, I've seen people question Gerald's account, and... well.. if that's the ONLY evidence... we don't really have ANY physical evidence. One of the darker theories is that Gerlad helped someone kidnap her. and she's just about the ideal age. old enough to be physically mature or close to it, but barely old enough to look like a woman.
@marhawkman303 there's no way they took her off the mountain. If it was foul play she's still out there and her camera is sitting in some old dudes garage.
@@bruderschweigen6889 So... that's a possibility I guess. What's your evidence?
@@Gingerbreadley Google doesn't equal experience Ms I comment people died in my family on videos for likes.
The best "411" disappearance and investigative channels on the internet.
People ask why he doesn't cover paranormal cases. He investigates so logically and without bias that these "paranormal" cases are usually revealed as simple misadventures once he explains the facts.
Exceptionally well-made/paced/produced. Thank you for the dignity towards the missing person, as well as the thought-provoking possibilities. I've only hiked in granite-rich areas like this, twice in my life and nearly turned my ankle right out of the van, even with a hiking stake. You have to watch the ground continually, if you don't want anything broken and your fellow hikers to have to carry you out on a homemade stretcher.
Your videos serve an important service to bring continued attention to these cases. They also serve to make people think about their personal safety. I am not saying missing people did anything wrong or were not paying attention to their surroundings. It only means to be vigilant and try to practice safety measures especially when out in the wilderness.
Paulidies is just such a good storyteller, back when he was all over coast2coast he was captivating audiences with this interesting somewhat new phenomena of people going missing. He really made people look past the idea of them simply becoming lost out there because he's an amazing speaker! When Nick goes out on location and when you actually get a glimpse of the size, the vastness of these places you become so much more aware that it probably isn't that unusual for dogs not to be picking up a scent, or that dozens of ground searchers found nothing. It's crazy how big these places are and how small a single person is amongst it
I subbed to DP's channel for about two weeks. He is cringe. He can't speak worth a shit. When he gets worked up, he starts talking like Mickey Mouse ffs. The only thing he did, was try to reel in the gullible into believeing his '411' nonsense.
@@deerichardz : Yeah...I always questioned his honesty and integrity, never finding him believable.
Been watching you since the beginning. I work off for 28 days at a time and on 12 hr shifts away from home and your videos are a staple to listen to when I’m passing the time.
So glad you're covering this most mysterious case. Can't wait!
It looks pretty easy to get off trail around there. I believe after taking some pics of the lake she headed back to what she thought was the right direction, but it was not. She couldn't find the trail and kept hiking in the wrong direction. She eventually hiked her way out into nowhere and never found her way back.
She was 14 and not very "outdoors wise" as evidence by wanting to wear flip flips on a 3 mile rt hike in that area.
Instead of staying put when she realized she was lost she most likely panicked and just kept walking her way further and further away.
How fat can an able bodied 14 yr old walk if their life depended on it? Pretty damn far I promise you. They may find her remains someday and wouldn't be surprised if it was well over 20 miles away from those lakes.
I'm thinking the same thing. Or that she climbed up somewhere to get a view and fell. It can be very hard to find bodies of people who fall off of cliffs or rocky slopes, and her body was hidden from direct view and was quickly scavenged by animals and her clothing long since rotted away. Only the camera and maybe her boots might last this long. It's sad - she was so young. If she fell, the end was probably quick, but if she got lost she might have suffered for days before dying of exposure.
I am 52, almost 53, and I can walk 14 miles in a day. I have done 18 miles a few times. So if I can do that she probably could too, especially since adrenaline gives you tons of energy. Once you realize you are lost and the fear response kicks in than you can run on adrenaline... Which gives you the ability to go even farther.
When it comes to respecting the deceased or the missing, you are number one. I love this channel and your videos because of that. There are a lot of channels that do the opposite and I cant condone that by being a viewer. I bet the majority of your viewers feel that way and that's why we are here. Keep on producing great videos like you do, your audience will be here patiently waiting for the next one.
Hey 👋🏼
Great work. I was 17 in 1979 and worked in Yosemite for a summer. At that time many employees also traveled parks, we lived in tent cabins and from bus drivers to house cleaners- there were drugs and alcohol. Some great people and some sketch. When I left that valley, I never wanted to go back. Park is all in for 💰💰💰at that time-
Being interested in these mysterious disappearances that for some reason mostly happen in the USA and listen to many different researchers this is the only channel I can give a thumbs up before a word has been spoken. Greetings from The Netherlands ..😊These drawings are much appreciated too…well done!!! So weird that Stacy was not found with so many people and resources searching for this girl..her family must still suffer from disappearance. Its extra special that this good man gives the listener a face to the story by going to the places where these events happened.
This happens anywhere there is vast forests with no people. The reason you only here about american disappearances is because you're on American website and we don't know the international stories. Thats the true wilderness not some Dutch pasture you take inherit risks when exploring the natural world.
I mean we just don’t hear much from non American sources not that they don’t exist. The idea of making videos on these disappearances aren’t really that common outside of certain groups and it is a niche
@@bruderschweigen6889 I am not sure about that. Of course there are some 350 million americans compared to the 18 million dutch....But still, something is going on, many people get missing in US cities too
I appreciate the fact and data based approach on this channel instead of the more sensational approach of a number of other channels. 👌👏
Your commitment is like no other. Well done! I enjoy the details to your stories. Better than most RUclipsrs on these subjects.
Really respect the fact that you visit these places to provide B roll and experience of the place. So many people do far less or even apply make up of all things while discussing true crimes.
I’ve spent nearly my entire life in California and haven’t been to Yosemite in 20 years. Props on the lengths you went to producing this content. Amazing!
Yup...I liked this video before it was posted :)
Great work...thank you very much!
I definitely think foul play is what happened here. I agree in most cases, Occams's razor can be applied. I don't believe it applies here.
I have a lot of experience in hiking in remote places, I was Infantry, in the military, and I do a lot of remote gold prospecting.
I completely agree that it is extremely easy to get lost or overwhelmed or underestimate the dangers of the wilderness. It's extremely vast.
The problem i have with the simplest explanation here. That of her getting lost or injured doesn't add up. The facts we do have don't support that. That the evidence of the NPS strange and secretive behavior, it still being considered a "investigation".
If she simply got lost or fell, Where is she, why has nothing been found? Like her mom said, something would have been found eventually, especially after 40 years.
Consider the case of Jesse Capen, left his camp in the Superstition mountains, and disappeared. His body was eventually found. He walked outside of camp in the dark and fell into a crevasse. He was eventually found though.
I think that the fact absolutely nothing of her has ever been found, in a very popular park is it's own clue.
The 80s was a different time, people were more trusting. Today even Gerald or her own father could be suspects. Did the boots conversation really happen? We don't know because the NPS won't release any info. The problem is it could have been anybody, anyone could be a suspect. Even if she ran off, where is she? She still would have had to meet a ill fate like if she was hitch hiking.
The NPS having a buddy buddy system or covering up a foul play in order to prevent panic, is not unrealistic. Keep in mind, in the 1980s there where 250 serial killers active.
I think she deserves justice and unfortunately that won't ever happen until the NPS cooperates.
As always love the video, hard work, attention to detail and professionalism. Also love the music. Excited for the next.
How many people are looking for her? How many people go where she would of fallen? And to me, most of all, how many people even know her body is, potentially, out there to be found? She didn't have a backpack orr anything that would last over the years.
So excited you're posting again! You're one of my favorite RUclipsrs.
Your channel is excellent, Nick! You go above and beyond!
What a tragic story! I think Stacy got lost and fell into a ravine or down a steep trail or crevasse.
This area is so wild and beautiful but, as we know, it's easy to get lost in the great outdoors.
Stacy is only two years younger than me, poor girl. May her Soul find peace and love in Heaven.
💗🙏
Absolutely stunning video as usual. The narration, music, artwork, and the fact that you actually go out there so we can see the area where these disappearances happened. Good work and thank you. 😊
I clicked on this video as quickly as possible...cannot wait to hear your take on this infamous case!! 🕵♂️🌄🤔
Great work...05:10 great transition...great channel! xoxo
I watch a lot of RUclips of these types of stories and, without exaggeration, this video is the very best one I’ve seen on Missing 411. Superb job! Bravo 👏
You are AMAZING! Thank you for going the extra mile in all that you do! I’m addicted to your content!
I'm in Norway 🇳🇴, a really tragic story beautifully told ,you do a great job ...the art work is impressive ..
Love your videos, thank you for taking us to the actual scenes/locations. So very well done.
Always a delight to see a new Missing Enigma video has dropped.
I love how you, The Lore Lodge, Red Thread, Mr. Ballen, etc, all have your own unique theme music. Each one hits different
The music for Lore Lodge is insufferable, I always skip it. This intro music on the other hand, I love. I play it on the guitar and my wife says it's eerie.
@@perfidiousalbion9975 I'd have to agree. This one is okay for me, but Red Thread and Lore Lodge are my top.
And Nexpo
Really excellent! Thank you so much for taking us all to where Stacy disappeared. Written accounts of her disappearance do not do the vast wilderness of where she was justice. And you have such good insight into human nature. Keep giving us more videos!!
And,
"BIGFOOT TREE BREAK!!!!"
Nice touch Nick.
28:39 👣 58:40 🪨🪨
We get two Missing Enigma videos in the span of 2 weeks!! That's awesome! Thanks for the double header.