Hi everyone, I have a minor additional update to this. Denean Stehling (Dale's wife) contacted me after watching my video series on his case. She told me a few details that I wanted to share, like
1.) Dale was disabled, and had endured 13 back surgeries since 1998.
2.) The NPS put up a sign and clear markers on the trail only after they learned that Dale's family, David Paulides, and the History Channel were showing up to film a TV program.
3.) Denean pleaded with Chief Ranger Jesse Farias many times to extend the search radius and go down Navajo Canyon. She was refused, with Farias telling her that they saw how Dale walked on a security camera in the visitor center and they didn't believe he could walk that far.
4.) The NPS did not give Denean the report which described how he was found and where.
5.) Dale was not in active addiction, but was on methadone.

Water.  He didn’t accept it because he didn’t think he would need it. Always take water. You never know.

sounds like a lot of the information wasn't public because the incorrect museum sign was potential lawsuit fuel.

A shame that potentially not having two screws in a sign instead of one allowing it to be spun around might have cost this guy his life.

"Too late to go back now." That sums up his inability to see his predicament.

Aragon is the perfect name for a ranger.

My opinion:  Reason for delay of info was for civil suit protection.   I recently got lot in a very traveled trail.  I got dehydrated and lost ALL my strength.  I couldn't even tell out for help. I was not hurt, only completely unable to move. Luckily,  I was able to send a cell phone ping to my family and they contacted local search and rescue.  I was rescued. I stayed put bc I couldn't move. That saved me.

I'm so glad someone told me as a child to stay put. I got lost at the zoo once, I was waiting in this line to slide down a slide and it was so long that I decided I would go back to the bottom and find my dad instead of waiting. I was like 7 though and couldn't remember where to go, so I decided to sit next to a petting zoo and just wait like I had been told (and of course cried the whole time 😂) and eventually my dad found me. I felt super bad for not going down the slide like we agreed, but at least I remembered to stay put when I realized I was lost and not keep moving. I probably wouldn't have died at the zoo but it definitely was a learning moment for me. RIP to Dale.

It's not hard to imagine him continuing to walk and realizing he's lost just as the sun went down, turning around and heading north to 'backtrack' up the canyon. Thinking he's not far from where his family was and knowing he's unlikely to fall since he's already at bottom of the canyon on flat ground, I could see him continuing to walk after dark instead of staying put, inadvertently missing the fork in the canyon in the dark and walking into the Navajo canyon without realizing it. By the time the sun came out he would have been parched and desperate for water from walking all night. In such circumstances it would be hard to think straight and he probably would prioritize finding water over lighting a signal fire.

People often don't realize how easy it is to get lost. I was hiking blood mountain with my wife a while back and came to a point in the trail with boulders and lots of brush. We had ideas where the trail could go but decided that under no circumstances will we attempt any direction and go beyond sight of where we were. We were going to head back down but another couple was heading down and showed us the way up. If you simply pick a direction and go you will get lost instantaneously.
If you are ever hiking and don't know where to go just turn back. It's not worth it.

As a recovering heroin addict, I found it notable that there was a picture of a lighter and a tiny bit of tinfoil found with Dale's remains. I wonder if he decided to extend his original walk in order to get to a less populated area in order to use opiates. This may even explain how Dale ended up going off-trail. He also could have been hesitant to call for help initially due to possession of drugs.

Either way, this is a tragic case, and I really feel for his loved ones. Just because someone is using drugs does not make them a bad person.

I also want to thank the presenter for sharing that he is also in recovery. I think it's really helpful for people to see a well-spoken, thoughtful, intelligent, and likeable person who is/was an addict. It helps people get a better idea of how addiction can effect anyone.

I think that the main reason they released the records to you was due to  your first video showing your rational and evidence driven approach to handling these topics.  You don't sensationalize or villianize. You simply analyze,  and most in this space don't do that.  The fact you got the records is a testament to your diligence and honesty in reporting accurately.

Thank you for not blaming the victim, and for always being sensitive to the victim's family.

As a recovering foil man, I can totally see him using being the only reason too go out by yourself. Getting high/staying high becomes the most important thing when ur in that unfortunate shit show. This addiction was and is the most painful experience of my life and my wife was robbed of the person she married because of it. She is the reason im here and after so many months of being by my side, she passed away right as I was going into two weeks sobriety. I love u Deborah you’re the only reason I’m here still, I’m not about to let all those months you took care and believed in me go to waste.

Once got lost in a park after getting the wrong directions from a young park worker in the area. We were lost on a series of winding trails and kept ending up back at the same tourist area, where they told us the complete wrong direction that ended with us lost in the forest as night began falling. We ended up there again, but by then they'd closed and there was nobody around. We had a map we'd gotten at a center earlier on, but it had trails listed that we simply couldnt find and I'd guess it was out of date. No cell signal. The only thing that got us back was hearing the sound of cars passing in the far distance, we weren't equipped to spend the night exposed at that time of year (warm days but freezing nights) so we pushed until we found a road and managed to follow it back to where we needed to be. Lots of lessons were learned.

I appreciate you mentioning that you’re in recovery. It’s important. I’m also in recovery and having someone like you mention that in a video helps others who may feel alone with it that day. Thanks. 🔺🔹

Remember kids, what do you do when you realize you're lost? STOP MOVING.

This guy literally walked himself to death. If he just sat down and waited, he'd be here today no doubt.

Edit: Yes guys. I know there are some situations when you need to attempt self rescue. But in most cases, if you are not in immediate danger, and people know you are missing and where you are (in a general vicinity) you are SIGNIFICANTLY more likely to survive if you STOP MOVING AND WAIT FOR RESCUE.

Congratulations on your recovery! I've been in recovery for 30 years. Thank you for all of your hard work and careful handling of this man's story.

I knew Mesa Verde was sketchy after watching Better Call Saul

Certain back injuries hurt less when you are standing or walking, so the "he will keep walking" fits perfectly with someone with an old injury, especially if he was missing his pain medication.