Yosemite's Most Mysterious Disappearance: Stacy Arras

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This video covers the disappearance of Stacy Arras in Yosemite National Park, California.
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Twitter: / missingenigma

[@TheMissingEnigma]

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[@Fukumen01]

7 days old comment? how?

[@AllGoodOutside]

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)_/¯

[@TheMissingEnigma]

@@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.

[@teracorona]

Haha "bigfoot tree break" love your sense of humor. I'm also from the great evergreen state.​@TheMissingEnigma

[@mikesanders8621]

At 8:57 there's a spooky face in the sky. It's subliminal messaging! This guy is an illuminati plant.

[@nmxsanchez]

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.

[@tillitsdone]

Does he do the illustrations too? They really are extraordinary.

[@rockstarofredondo]

@@tillitsdoneI think it’s an app.

[@diaboli.advocatus]

The artwork is good but it freaks me out sometimes lol like the Robot Grandma cover 😖

[@nmxsanchez]

@@tillitsdone it is all done by him. It is not AI generated art like is so common these days

[@nmxsanchez]

@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.

[@pupugattakakka7519]

2 VIDS IN 2 WEEKS?!?! HALLELUJAH! Thanks Nick!!! I appreciate all your hard work!

[@dancingpixie6120]

I was thinking the same thing!! 🤯

[@elliepascoe5954]

And me!❤🇳🇱

[@nmxsanchez]

Yeah, impressive output considering the quality. And lovely footage

[@OldsmobileCutlass1969Va]

Considering we had to wait 3 months last time... Maybe he was working on several videos at the same time. 🤔

[@poopiepants33]

Agree! Cheers fren!!!

[@Lambach-Ruthven]

Really appreciate how you approach the "missing 411" phenomenon from a skeptical yet open minded perspective. Easily the best channel on the subject.

[@earnold1896]

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.

[@jacksquat4140]

@@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".

[@danditzel7271]

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]

not in 2024..now its looking at theri phone

[@lattrelbia2527]

​@norml.hugh-mann a woman fell from the grand canyon while on her phones camera

[@Newjerseyblows]

​@norml.hugh-mann the quote still counts towards smart phones

[@jon9021]

@@Newjerseyblowseven more so!

[@williamsherman2776]

People are just dumb and don’t pay attention to their surroundings and people rarely look up or down

[@jmcooper7109]

This guy is a genuine professional. Thanks for all the effort and excellent content. Always a pleasure. Wish you continued success

[@AxtionMag]

Well said! I absolutely concur!

[@housekirk3165]

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.

[@jeremyporter5540]

Me too

[@AllGoodOutside]

@@jeremyporter5540 Me throo lol

[@redfxgtchick]

I concur!!!

[@ItsKrma00]

I just hit it!

[@lilybenallou5269]

Though there are quite a lot of KZbinrs who cover missing people in the wilderness, your videos stand out for above the rest because you go to the locations and hike them.

[@merricat3025]

And you get a better idea of how easy it would be to get lost or hurt and no one would find you..

[@AbhorSHUN1]

You should team up with Dave paulides

[@TheMissingEnigma]

@AbhorSHUN1 I don't think he would like that.

[@TheMadmatt7]

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.

[@ApathyBM]

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

[@TezzyRs]

@@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]

@@TezzyRs Not if she died hiding under something like a fallen log

[@TezzyRs]

@@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.

[@fioregiallo]

​@@TezzyRs yeah but you're ignoring the exposure part-- she could have died the first night, man. It can get really cold at night in Yellowstone, like below freezing, even in summer.

[@wanttoread5]

One of the best voices, with the best syntax and diction of all youtube documentarians.

[@Donny-does-it]

Couldn't agree more. This Nick guy is a natural.

[@digginggopher]

Hey this is a family friendly channel

[@BlueM-o2b]

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. 👏

[@AshesAshes44]

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?!*

[@materialmirage]

Such a dapper, timeless gentleman.

[@iloveislandlifekeywest]

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.

[@nurdsmith]

Bud, these videos are getting better and better.

[@Smoloko123]

I've trained him well.

[@OliviaFinley-p7w]

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 😞

[@elizabethpemberton8445]

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.

[@marhawkman303]

@@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.

[@jankurth7445]

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.

[@FabricofTime]

​@@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.

[@marhawkman303]

@@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.

[@PlacentaFishcakes]

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

[@AbhorSHUN1]

Still Yosemite won't give any info on her disappearance

[@mentallyunstableplant]

all the footage of you walking through the trails makes me want to get back into hiking, its just so calming and peaceful

[@chriswhite2151]

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.

[@FabricofTime]

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.

[@richardhelliwell1210]

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.

[@norml.hugh-mann]

decent theory, but its only speculation and there is no actiual evidence of it. seems like if that were the case then this would be an everyday occurance nowdays

[@williamsherman2776]

Marijuana doesn’t make you lose track of where you are and no ever expects the old man if anything it was him

[@tw9664]

@@williamsherman2776I’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…

[@eelsonwheels8187]

Always a good day when Nick uploads :)

[@kristenblack6026]

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.

[@bayg6703]

U told us a story about your co worker uncle disappearing during a hike but didn't tell us his name? B's story😒

[@billblaski9523]

​@bayg6703 lol but why would they just make up a fake story??

[@Leone_510__]

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.

[@angelmist4253]

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.

[@angelmist4253]

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.

[@jeezycreezy4220]

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.

[@chriswhite2151]

I walked the decks of Old Ironsides, an ancient battleship, barefooted in 1975. I was 14

[@Dollsteak69]

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.

[@staceyn2541]

I totally wore jelly sandals everywhere when I was 13. Still seems unlikely that she walked out...

[@Veritasominavincit]

I wear flip flops all the time everywhere so yeah totally plausible.

[@KimEvans-dk9vk]

jeezycreezy, yep, I did the same.

[@ragnardanneskjold7675]

You have the best mystery channel by far and it’s not even close.

[@PatriciaCook-p1j]

He should definitely have more followers than he does!!!

[@dannypriceii4154]

Mysterious WV is a good one also.

[@spleeeen4it]

​@@dannypriceii4154, yeah he's great too

[@PxeyChicky]

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!

[@chriswhite2151]

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 KZbin 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.

[@codered7453]

Excellent points. You practically said what I was thinking.

[@elizabethpemberton8445]

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.

[@joannecarson7173]

Portable computers were available in 1982.

[@rockstarofredondo]

@@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.

[@Tero92]

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.

[@Lhunweth]

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.

[@svenskanorsk]

For my visually processing mind, being able to see the area makes a big difference. Thanks for putting this together.

[@djaceofpentacles]

Killing it with quality and quantity of content. Good case too!

[@Swordfernsteve]

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!

[@MJ-mk8jg]

Easily the best missing person's channel on KZbin

[@jamesrozell6467]

The national parks service does a really good job of acting like they have something to hide.

[@joeblow8982]

You can't really comprehend the vastness, ruggedness and grandeur of Yosemite without having been there.

[@lily-iv3rn]

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]

So Stacy disappeared. What about her horse? Did it disappear too?

[@elonever.2.071]

@@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.

[@MamaStyles]

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 🇨🇦

[@Smoloko123]

You like BWC?

[@MamaStyles]

@@Smoloko123 ? What’s that

[@MichaelB-jw5po]

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.

[@SMaamri78]

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.

[@SeraphinaPZ]

I am pleasantly surprised to see another upload so soon, the video on Dale Stehling was great stuff.

[@Fuhrious]

The music was truly excellent on this one. Kudos to the artist.

[@sappholily]

nick is the artist!

[@angelmist4253]

​@@sappholilyof the music too?

[@crichardson3903]

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.

[@Bojonni]

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.

[@lubabe9969]

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.

[@AxtionMag]

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.

[@termsofusepolice]

​@@AxtionMagThe Lore Lodge guy is insufferable. Also buys into right-wing conspiracy nonsense. TME is the opposite. Humility, facts and no ideological agenda.

[@greglamphier4430]

He (LL) is a bit insufferable..

[@lubabe9969]

@@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.

[@VMM34]

​@@AxtionMagAiden from LL has a brain like a computer, I'm always awestruck by how he remembers all those details, it's mind-blowing

[@arcomn]

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 KZbin videos!!!

[@TesseractDome]

I had heard on a previous doc that when Stacey Arras father had asked her to change her foot wear from flip-flops to hiking boots that Stacey may have been irritated about that. I always thought she might have hiked farther than she intended being a little angry and then may have looked up and didn't notice her surroundings at all. Heck, I remember if I got angry when I was younger I would always want to go for a long walk to work things out in my head but going for a long walk in Yosemite versus your familiar neighborhood could get you seriously lost.

[@arcomn]

@@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!!

[@davemanley2954]

Thanks for hiking the area It always helps to visualize the places that you talk about 👍

[@GuymontagFahr451]

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.

[@jirihamersky6152]

For me, this is the best quality channel dealing with these topics. Thank you very much for your work. Absolutely top.

[@ditttch]

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 :)

[@InsaneDuckOutdoors]

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.

[@saraparker184]

despite the unfortunate events that lead you to these locations, i enjoy visiting places i could never dream of seeing in person.

[@Aynonemouse]

My guess is the accident theory. There have been documented cases of people being in boulder fields, hopping onto the wrong boulder and having it roll over on top of them trapping them. That would make it very difficult to find someone.

[@thurayya8905]

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.

[@sedorgard]

Fascinating again. You are easily the best channel discussing unsolved disappearances. Your thoroughness is unmatched.

[@djharrod1764]

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!🎉

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

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 😂😂😂)

[@mecahhannah]

I've been waiting for you to cover this one thanks always enjoy your videos!❤

[@IvanIvanoIvanovich]

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.

[@jerrylittle7797]

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.

[@gutterpeach3145]

Sweet! Thank you! Rule #1 - Never go off trail. Rule #2 - IF you go off trail, tie a ribbon/rope/yarn/tape to something where you leave the trail. Hold that tape and continue to unroll it as you go. When it’s time to go back to the trail, follow your tape back to the trail.

[@teresalopez7081]

My thoughts exactly. 😢

[@OldsmobileCutlass1969Va]

When we used to go "off trail" we made unmistakable markers... Like directional arrows with sticks back to the trail and string to mark trees (we removed all non natural items on the way back).

[@markmower6507]

Rule #1, Never go on trails, there could be Hungry Bears, Bobcats, Spiders, and Snakes, and Coyetes, and Wolves...

[@markmower6507]

I prefer the Creature Comforts and stay Way Off Trail. Hahahahahahaha 😂!!!

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

From time to time look behind you so you can recognize the path if you need to go back. Preferably take a picture. This is extra important were tracks meet or splits. A "Swedish inertial compass" is also useful if you need to go in a straight line. Always carry paracord, duct tape, Cable/zip ties and loctite super glue.

[@borleyboo5613]

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. 😊

[@csg2745]

Yes! Thank you Nick! The one I’ve been waiting for!

[@krudilahetzmannreturns8292]

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.

[@cortrichards8179]

Thanks! You're the best, Nick. Hope this small contribution helps in some way. All the best to you and yours - Cort

[@Za7a7aZ]

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.

[@bruderschweigen6889]

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.

[@josephrabbottino7146]

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!

[@SrcWaC2023]

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!

[@wasshisface]

With regard to why the Park isn't releasing records: Hanlon's razor: "never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity" - it is likely that they are more likely hiding poor practice, conduct and/or workmanship than evidence of foul play

[@Avid_Fan]

Agreed.

[@staceyn2541]

Isn't there a saying about it being good enough for government work? My dad has many sayings and I'm never sure if they were unique to him. He was also a government employee.

[@pieyedapple]

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.

[@layla0840]

I love how you, The Lore Lodge, Red Thread, Mr. Ballen, etc, all have your own unique theme music. Each one hits different

[@perfidiousalbion9975]

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.

[@layla0840]

@@perfidiousalbion9975 I'd have to agree. This one is okay for me, but Red Thread and Lore Lodge are my top. And Nexpo

[@randyfreeze789]

So glad you're covering this most mysterious case. Can't wait!

[@ziongite]

Here is what I think. 1. The idea that she fell over somewhere and died not far from the lakes, it seems unlikely, based on the fact that the searchers and sniffer dogs couldn't find anything, as well as the 2000 plus page unreleased case files also suggest it is something more than this as well. 2. The idea that she wandered off trail and somehow got lost, and then basically kept walking in an attempt to no longer be long, ended up walking tens of kilometres in the wrong direction and out in the middle of nowhere, yes this is indeed possible as if you walked south for some reason you wouldn't come across a road for more than 100km, and even if you walked off trail and got lost and went directly east, you also wouldn't come across a road until crossing 30km of terrain. It's indeed possible she became lost, tried to cross a great distance in a panic, and that her body is just out there somewhere, far outside the search area. This scenario actually seems fairly likely in fact, but I wonder is the 2000+ pages of unreleased case files a contradiction against this being possible? 3. Another scenario, she didn't really want to be there to begin with, which sounds possible, she simply walked to the road which you could walk to directly in as little as 3km, and she basically fled with some guy she knew who they pre-planned to meet there, meaning she basically ran away. This sounds like a possibility, and it would also make sense why they wouldn't release the case files if they started to find out that this girl is now living a life somewhere else and just hated her family and didn't want to return to them etc. I actually think this one seems possible. 4. Another scenario that is possible, she was simply abducted by some sick criminal predator. These kind of people 100% do exist, where they prey on people and try to abduct people exactly like Stacy for example. Basically I am saying some man could have captured her, duct taped her mouth, tied her hands, and then made her walk back to his car parked slightly off the road, where he then drove her off and did whatever he was going to do with her. This isn't far fetched, there are various areas along the road that are only a mere 3km from where she was, that is easy to walk that, and it isn't like some abductee would have had to carry her or anything, he would just tell her to walk in that direction and she would have no choice but to obey etc. I think scenario 3 is the most likely, with then scenario 4 coming in as the second most likely. The reason I lean toward scenario 3, is because she was having problems at school (clearly her mind was elsewhere), and she was of that age where puberty is hitting hard and desires change etc, it also sounds like she had problems with her family as well, it all seems to align. It also explains why they couldn't find a trace of her there at the park, it also explains the large case file, its possible inside those case files there were actual people that saw her venturing toward the road etc, and that the investigators started to heavily suspect that she deliberately fled.

[@suzdupe]

Nice analysis. Hope you don’t mind if I piggyback on your comprehensive discussion with a scenario 5 so I can contribute a thought I intended to share. 5. If the father and/or the senior citizen were determined to be legitimate suspects as perpetrators of foul play, any uncorroborated testimony they contributed would be compromised. I would take details like her initial plan to hike in flipflops, her state of mind and motivation for leaving to hike solo at the end of a long day, and/or where exactly she was last seen with a grain of salt or two.

[@csolivais1979]

Quick question, where did you hear that there is over 2000 pages in the case file?

[@erockstoenescu6171]

How do you know there’s 2,000 pages? There wouldn’t be that many if they believed she just ran away. Also, why would she abandon her bf whom she missed dearly? The fact that no sign of her has ever been found leads me to believe she was most likely intentionally hidden/buried somewhere. She also could’ve made it to the road and been picked up while hitchhiking and her remains could be somewhere else entirely nowhere near Yosemite

[@sharisalem-kizziar7871]

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!!

[@karlfonner7589]

This is the most informative video on the subject yet. thank you

[@Gingerbreadley]

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.

[@marhawkman303]

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.

[@bruderschweigen6889]

​@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.

[@marhawkman303]

@@bruderschweigen6889 So... that's a possibility I guess. What's your evidence?

[@anthonysheppard9247]

I'm in Norway 🇳🇴, a really tragic story beautifully told ,you do a great job ...the art work is impressive ..

[@seattlesauce]

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.

[@Pipsqwak]

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.

[@housekirk3165]

And, "BIGFOOT TREE BREAK!!!!" Nice touch Nick.

[@alphooey]

Always a delight to see a new Missing Enigma video has dropped.

[@codered7453]

We get two Missing Enigma videos in the span of 2 weeks!! That's awesome! Thanks for the double header.

[@ameliarhodes5000]

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.

[@repoocrj]

I love that you go out and hike the area. Thank you! 🙏

[@paperandpavement]

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.

[@leslieohmit5052]

So happy to see you back, your work is remarkable.

[@joetoppe4643]

I LOVE YOUR POSTS! TY! Keep doing great work!

[@Zefram0911]

glad you're making more videos lately!

[@TheOttomann64]

Yup...I liked this video before it was posted :) Great work...thank you very much!

[@normagrimstad8869]

I think you are absolutely correct. She went to get a picture and either tripped or lost the trail. Fourteen year olds do not think of what might happen, mainly because they have little experience in life. They think of adventure first.

[@HappyHermitt]

Whatever took her, I hope she did not suffer.

[@shahaasheron]

What wild, wide, fearsome country! The USA is as magical as any fantasy realm.

[@skylove1336]

This case has always left me wondering why there is very little information publicly available. Appreciate the video.

[@Ron4885]

My gosh, that's a beautiful area.

[@stephenbastasch7893]

Thank you for taking us into the physical heart of this sad mystery...beautiful country.

[@amymegginson-uz7jj]

Your stories are always so succinct and chock full of information. Love it!

[@smileygladhands]

Thank you for telling the entire story and showing us the area. You're a true investigator.

[@kevinoswald4136]

They don't like to release the records because they dont want the public to know that the most dangerous animals in the park are the other humans.

[@truffles2721]

The old guy that the father let her go 🚶‍♀️ with.

[@markmower6507]

Bingo!!!

[@Leone_510__]

If you go to nature you already know that.

[@exiletsj2570]

I can work that out for myself, a mountain lion can’t shoot me. I’ve always thought they hide the numbers because they want people to come the parks, however if the true numbers of missing were known, people would start to demand more protection and security. Your government would probably rather spend money elsewhere, other than patrolling thousands of miles of wilderness. The probability still is the majority of these people, are just victims of accidents, usually due to ignorance of the dangers of the environment.

[@friedrichjunzt]

They just messed up and want to cover it would be more likely to me

[@krisbrewer4541]

This was an amazing episode! Thank you for filming the journey. It was very well done! 😊

[@fh1119]

Love your videos, thank you for taking us to the actual scenes/locations. So very well done.

[@ItsKrma00]

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 ❤

[@melodymerritt8419]

This one to me seems like a no brainer. I grew up very near where Stacy grew up, SF Bay Area. I am 10 years older than she, and I too loved the outdoors and Yosemite in particular. And grew loving photography too. So, that being said, she would NOT have left to go home to see her boyfriend. That is just stupid. It was the afternoon. She didn't even have day pack with her. Fourteen year old girls are NOT stupid! Maybe 14 year old boys are but not girls.She was listening to her father as she changed her shoes so that tells me she was having a good time with him and getting along with him. She left the trail to either get a good pic of the lake or to take a leak. While doing that she got disoriented, turn around and could not find her way back to the trail or camp. After all she was about a half hour, according to Gerald's recollection of the time frame, and that could be a fair distance away from the camp, the lake, the trail, or anything within shouting distance. She got lost, injured, or fell into a hole spmewhere, and could have encountered a mountain lion....in that case no trace will ever be found....maybe a boot sometime. Good video, and I really appreciate your efforts in bringing your followers (of which I am one) really great content. Thank you!

[@charlesdial7152]

Smthg took her, BF or she went into a portal but smthg strange did go dwn 💯🙏

[@kingcharlesparody]

30 year old women are stupid so what are you talking about 😂

[@frankmarano1118]

A mountain lion wouldve left them evidence though? I agree with you that she didnt leave to go home on her own but theres NO dumb 14 year old girls? Thats kind of a silly obviously untrue thing to say. Ive met plenty of idiots & yes some of them were girls believe it or not. Gender has little to do with intelligence. There are millions of cases of girls that age doing risky dumb things. (The girl in this case is not one of them)

[@shakermodz1413]

Likely one of them cloaking giant praying mantis from the other side of the Antarctica ring of flat earth. Portal in here grab the subject and zip back out all within seconds. That or it can only be the elusive donkey elephant and that would be just as scary. Keep safe out there folks.

[@Hasdrubhaal]

​@@shakermodz1413 😂😂

[@bumblingbe]

44:30 just FYI pretty sure those small trail like paths are game trails, it’s where animals have worn away a trail naturally probably going to the lake to drink. You can also find them in the woods/ forest away from the human trails, just don’t camp right next to one or you might have a visitor 🐻🦌🐈

[@mrsjackson9822]

I just couldn’t imagine going out for a hike with my child, and simply just not seeing them again. Truly baffling. The not knowing would do me in.

[@ollieminecraft]

Mr. Nightmare, Chilling Scares, and TME all uploaded today. This is the best day ever.

[@BlueM-o2b]

I would love to hear any Missing Enigma fans' other YT suggestions. It's been hard to avoid AI recently, and my favorites seem to not get recommended unless I have alerts. Sometimes not even then. Nobody is quite like Missing Enigma, but maybe we're all missing some other creators we might share?

[@freckles0829]

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

[@TKTK-zx2xt]

I really appreciate your thoroughness & how detailed you are, thank you so much for every video ! ❤😊

[@mecahhannah]

Been waiting for you to cover this one thanks always enjoy your videos and appreciate all your hard work!❤

[@DuncanMcHenry-b9w]

You have the most calming informative and logical missing videos on all of KZbin

[@CommunityMartyr]

another terrific video, the effort you put into them really shows

[@VasetoKonq]

Cheers Nick for the great content as always! Thanks for the treat!

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

Although foul play may seem unlikely, most crimes involving young women are opportunistic. And she could have been walked out of the area at knife/gunpoint. In which case she could be miles away. But accident does seem more reasonable - lost, dehydrated, panic-induced walking in the wrong direction...absolutely horrible for her family to have no answers.

[@artisticwife4889]

Agreed on the opportunistic angle. While I have my own reasons for believing that she wandered off and got hurt, I also think of how Elizabeth Smart was subdued by her captor. After her recovery, she (Elizabeth) talked about how she literally heard her uncle calling her, and Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee intimidated her into absolute silence by revealing that they would hurt her family. 14-year-old girls aren't hard to intimidate. It was later revealed that Search and Rescue helicopters flew directly over Smart's location, and her uncle was within 50 feet of the rest of the searchers. I don't think Aras was abducted but it's not impossible.