Searchers pin hopes on new sighting of missing hiker

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DUCHESNE — As their search enters its seventh day, Duchesne County sheriff's officials hope that a new sighting of a missing Australian hiker will help them find the man.

The last known sighting of Eric Robinson had been on July 30 near Fox Lake. However, an LDS bishop from West Jordan contacted the sheriff's office Saturday to report an encounter with Robinson on Aug. 2 in the Yellowstone Creek drainage, according to Duchesne County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Dave Boren.

"He was in good health and good spirits," Boren said, referring to the description the bishop had given of Robinson.

Robinson, 63, set out July 28, intending to hike the 60-mile Highline Trail in 10 days. He was expected to return Aug. 7 at the latest and was supposed to fly to Vancouver, British Columbia, for another leg of his extended hiking trip from Melbourne, Australia. His wife, Marilyn Koolstra, said he was well-prepared for the trip and is a "very keen tramper."

Boren said the bishop who reported the most recent sighting was leading a group of Boy Scouts when they met up with Robinson, who was about 3 1/2 miles south of the Highline Trail.

"They got (Robinson) oriented and he went back to the Highline Trail," Boren said.

Searchers are now focusing on an area between the Five Points Lake and Bluebell Pass trail heads, the chief deputy said. Teams on horseback headed into the area Sunday. Hikers sent in Saturday had not reported any sightings of Robinson, Boren said.

"I'm concerned that his emergency locator beacon hasn't been set off," he said, "but we haven't given up hope that we're going to find him wandering somewhere out there."

Officials believe Robinson is carrying a red backpack that was full of supplies. He is about 5-feet, 7- inches tall and has a slender, fit build. He's bald-headed but has some gray hair around his head. He was fully equipped for any type of weather he would have encountered while hiking and typically wears a fleece shirt and shorts, his wife said.

The public is asked to call the sheriff's office in Duchesne at 435-738-2015 if they remember seeing or speaking with Robinson. His wife says he is "very social, very friendly, outgoing and has a delightfully Australian- Scottish accent."

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Written by Geoff Liesik with contributions from Wendy Leonard.