| In September 2005, Michelle Vanek set out to hike Mount of the Holy Cross, a 14,005-foot peak in Colorado. As she neared the top, she became too tired to go on. Her hiking partner headed for the summit. She was never seen alive again. For years, Michelle’s disappearance mystified investigators and tormented the small communities surrounding the mountain. Hundreds of people need to be rescued in the North American backcountry every year, but most of the time, those adventurers would be found, dead or alive, within days or weeks. A number of conspiracy theories only served to stoke interest in the case. Some theorized about another backpacker on the trail who had been questioned by authorities. Others suggested Michelle had been abducted or had run off and abandoned the family. In 2024, a team of volunteers found Vanek’s remains. But many unknowns still linger over her disappearance. | 
