This case has haunted me since it was originally on Oprah show 20 (?)  years ago ... constantly think about him and his family :(

This disappearance makes me really sad, thank you for covering it!

From my experience as a backcountry guide, and as someone very familiar with the Uintas, I feel strongly this is the most likely scenario: Garrett got his shoes/socks wet so dad tells him to go back and change. On his way back, he shortcuts accross the boggy meadow. Why? Well his shoes were already wet so why not. He was 12 and these are the decisions 12 year olds make. The meadows don't appear dangerous or even boggy at first glance, but they do have little spring creeks with deeply undercut banks. These creeks are so small, maybe only a foot wide, that it's easy to step accross. I believe, he stepped accross one of these and slipped into the 40 degree water. Sure it was likely less than 2ft deep, but when a person unexpectedly hits cold water like that, sometimes they accidentally inhale water. It's called a flush drowning. I also am a professional river guide and certified in swift water rescue. It's unfortunately a common way people drown in rivers. They can have a perfectly fitted PFD (lifejacket) on, but if they fall out of the raft and mis-time their breaths inbetween the waves of the rapids, they can drown while still floating in their PFD. I think Garrett drowned in a freak accident when he slipped into one of these little creeks. Due to the banks being undercut, sometimes to the point that the grass is basically floating on water, I think his body rolled underneath the bank and essentially disappeared. It's something that would never happened if someone was with him and could simply have pulled him out, but sometimes life happens. I don't fault the dad at all. It was so close to camp, I would 100% do that with my own boy. These meadows really aren't anymore dangerous than your local neighborhood pond, but unfortunately time and time again, we see drownings where someone cramps up while swimming, hits their head after a fall and rolls into the pond, etc. Finding the remains will be impossible at this point, they will have sunk into the soft silty bottom. I don't know the details of the search and rescue operation that day, but I would have spent my time with a snorkel mask peering underneath the undercuts and probing with a hiking pole where I couldn't reach or see. I hope the family finds peace; if he passed this way, his death would have been very quick.

Jesus!!! 20years!? Under no circumstances would I let my child go alone!! Ever...But I pray his remains are found so he can be laid to rest. 😢

Nothing worse than losing a child.

Thank you Steve for this great video and how u want his memory to stay with all of us,,,,!!!! I just wish you could be the one to find the truth God bless

I liked this long video. Gives us an idea of what it's like and looks like out there. It also gives eerie vibes; I wouldn't be camping out there alone. New subscriber

Thanks steve for your work

I too have followed this boys disappearance since it occurred in 2004. I’m in Utah as well. At that time I had a 5 year old son with cancer and it hit hard to see another family struggling with the fear of losing a child. Every few years Garrett’s name pops into my head and I look him up to see if there’s been any updates. This boy has been in my heart for a long time.

15:34 that’s funny, the Missing Enigma guy passed that same fork, yet he used a GPS device to put him back on track after a bit. That’s crazy as you’re both seasoned hikers.

It's amazing to take these trips with you.  I've camped at Mirror Lake and Trial Lake a lot but never been in the back country except Lambert Meadows, Wolf Creek and Duchesne Ridge.  When I watch your videos, I recognize places like Heartbreak Ridge, Marsell Peak and many of the lakes as if I've been there.  I often look at the Google maps of those areas.  I actually think I could avoid getting lost if I were in those areas by using Bald Mountain and Reid's Peak as a landmark compass.  Thank you for making me feel like I've been to those places.

You the man, Steve

I've camped in the Cuberant basin a number of times. It is a beautiful area. Thank you for showing the map with lakes numbered. I think there is a lot of confusion in the various reports out there since it is common for people to have different labels for the lakes. I have always camped at lake #4 per your map. The Cuberant basin is enclosed on (3) sides but the 4th side is open and very steep...what I would categorize as a cliff in some areas. The first time I camped in the basin, I walked away from camp to explore the area and I was surprised how the cliff suddenly emerged as I walked out of the trees near lake number #4...and how steep the cliff was.  That steep edge of the basin is very close to lakes 4 and 3 and I could easily see how a kid could have gotten confused and veered off the trail in a panicked state of mind and potentially in the direction of the cliff. Based on my memory, the trail is not very well defined around these two lakes. I didn't watch all of your video so I don't know if you covered this but that cliff edge would not have been easy to search. That is where I would put the focus of the search...though it is hard to imagine being able to find anything now with so much time passed. I appreciate all the time you put into this to bring awareness to this issue. The one critique I would say is that you mentioned a couple of times that the place has a strange feeling. I guess to each their own but I have never felt anything unusual there other than it is a beautiful location.

Great video, really enjoyed the views and the trek but such a sad and shocking thing to happen in the area 🧐👍

Wow, 20 years already! His poor family and his friends who were with him on that trip.    So,heartbreaking not having answers.
Since this is a long video, I'll be  watching in bits & pieces...
Great job keeping his memory alive.

Hey Steve, thanks for the tribute to Garrett and for the amazing footage and thanks for sharing your thoughts. This is a deeply unsettling, sad, disturbing, and haunting case. I've been obsessed with this case since it happened 20 years ago. I lived just on the other side of the mountains when this tragedy occurred. I still wonder what happened to him. There are many theories and speculations and I think each one could potentially be "the answer", but I ultimately don't know. I hope we'll find his remains someday so his poor family can get closure. God bless and thanks again Steve. If I can arrange the time and money to come visit my old stomping grounds from Seattle I'd love to come and hike the Utah mountains.

I’m brand new to this channel and hearing about this case . I love the information and the content you provide. As a hunter and tracker all my life . I’m 40 now . And it’s just bizarre even if an animal carries him off he’s not bringing all he’s items with . And he’s screaming would sound an alarm. There must have been a bad person with some ill will on he’s mind . You just can’t believe nobody has found anything in so long . Rip to this kid . Being a dad this hits home for anyone

I was watching "The Missing Enigma" on this case.  I believe the hosts name is Nick.  He was showing some info from the actual case file, which I am assuming he got through the Freedom of Info Act, as he almost always does on these cases.  According to the case file, it was NOT lake #2 where Garrett and his dad were fishing at.  It was lake #3. Nick actually showed the the diagram from the Summit County  ase file that had the exact located marked where they were fishing on lake #3.
Lake number 3 is roughly the same distance from the meadow campground on a diffrent trail more to the left that a tually veers off the main trail right before you get to the meadow.
No disrespect at all toward this video, as i enjoyed it. very much.  And I do think this video is accurrate other than the right lake.  And he probably did in fact camp right at or very close the s out camp on his 2nd video at the meadow.
I am also 25 year and still current law enforcement raised in Utah, now living in Washington state.  I am familiar with the high Uintas also.  This really is an odd case becasue the basin is only a square mile.  My guess is that Guarrett went ba k the same direction but got off the trail and ended up going down & out of the basis where something happened to him, possibly an accident.  And he succumed to exposure.  So sad, and may he rest in peace and his families pain ease.

i would feel super scared being there by myself, but great video, good job! ,  ! that case is so sad, kinda make people get obsessed trying to find out what happen with Garrett, i hope some day we can find answers

I enjoyed your video v much - the most effective & sensitive treatment of the subject I can imagine - really felt like I was out there with you w your convivial nature & immersive technique - made me want to explore utah someday & also ck out your other vids & blog, which i see has been around since 2015 & looks quite interesting - btw your camera is excellent & your camera work - new sub & thx