At dawn on September 23rd, 2023, Grand Canyon National Park Ranger Michael Ryder was conducting a routine patrol of the southern section of the Black River Trail when his radio suddenly crackled.

The dispatcher’s voice sounded tense.

Code 13, South Square 7, possible missing person.

Having worked in the park for over 15 years, Ryder never thought he would witness an event that would shake the entire state of Arizona.

20 minutes later, he arrived at the location where a group of tourists had surrounded a man with long, tangled hair, dirty, torn clothes, and unnaturally pale skin.

The man was shivering despite the morning heat and repeating the same thing over and over.

We found it.

It’s still there.

Time flows differently there.

When the rangers transported the stranger to a hospital in Flagstaff, the doctor examined the patient and shook his head in surprise.

He shows signs of vitamin deficiency and prolonged exposure to sunlight as if he had been living underground for months.

But the real shock came when fingerprint analysis confirmed the incredible.

Before them was Ethan Finch, one of two tourists who disappeared in the Grand Canyon in October 2021.

The man who had been presumed dead for almost 2 years had returned.

But where was his companion, Caitlyn Mercer, and what had happened to them during those long months? The disappearance of Ethan Finch and Caitlyn Mercer became one of the most mysterious cases in the history of the national park.

The young couple from Tucson set out on a 5-day hike along a littleknown route in the northern part of the canyon on October 12th, 2021.

Ethan, a promising geologist at the University of Arizona, and Caitlyn, a talented wildlife photographer, had considerable hiking experience and proper equipment.

Contact with them was lost on the third day of the trip, October 15th, after Caitlyn posted a photo of them together with the sunset and an intriguing caption about some discovery on Instagram.

The search began on October 17th when the couple did not return on time and did not answer their phones.

Rangers found their camp intact.

The tent was standing, their belongings were neatly packed, and their food and water supplies were almost untouched.

There were no signs of a struggle, predator attack, or accident.

It seemed as if the couple had simply vanished into thin air, leaving behind everything they needed to survive.

The search operation lasted 3 weeks and was one of the largest in the park’s history.

Helicopters, search dogs, drones with thermal imaging cameras, and hundreds of volunteers were involved.

But the only clue was Caitlyn’s diary found in the tent with the last entry.

Ethan is sure that this cave is not just a geological formation.

The sounds from the depths, the strange drawings on the walls.

Tomorrow we’re going to explore deeper.

After 2 years of fruitless searching, the Finch Mercer case was effectively closed.

Classified as disappearance in the wilderness for unknown reasons.

Experts suggested various versions from accident to escape from civilization.

But Ethan’s unexpected return turned all theories upside down.

At the Flagstaff Hospital, Ethan Finch, surrounded by doctors and FBI agents, slowly regained consciousness.

His eyes, unusually light, as if faded, darted nervously around the room.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet and as if he hadn’t used it in a long time.

You won’t believe it, but we found something down there.

A network of tunnels.

They stretch for miles.

Caitlyn is still there.

I have to go back for her.

Medical examinations revealed anomalies that baffled even experienced doctors.

Ethan’s condition was consistent with that of a person who had spent several months in complete darkness, critical vitamin D deficiency, muscle atrophy, extreme sensitivity to light.

But what caused the most concern were his stories about a place where time flows differently, and those who live underground.

Psychiatrists suspected the development of acute psychosis as a result of traumatic experiences.

But when geologists and archaeologists began to analyze the medallion with strange symbols found on Ethan and compare it with artifacts of ancient peoples who inhabited these lands, questions arose to which science had no ready answers.

The story of Ethan Finch gradually revealed a secret that had been hidden in the depths of the Grand Canyon for millennia.

Ethan Finch was born and raised in the small town of Sedona, Arizona among the red rocks and canyons that would later define his professional life.

From childhood, the boy showed a keen interest in geology, collecting rocks during every family outing to the desert.

This interest grew into a serious hobby when at the age of 16, he descended into the Grand Canyon for the first time with his father, a professor of geology at the University of Wyoming.

Ethan has always been fascinated by the stratification of rock.

His father, Robert Finch, later recalled in an interview, “He could talk for hours about how two billion years of Earth’s history are revealed before you in the walls of the Grand Canyon, layer by layer.

At the age of 28, Ethan had already made a significant contribution to the scientific community, earning a doctorate from the University of Arizona and publishing a series of studies on the littlest studied geological formations of the southwestern states.

Tall with skin tanned from constant expeditions under the scorching sun, dark blonde hair, and attentive brown eyes.

He had a particular passion for field research, preferring to work in the field rather than in the laboratory.

Colleagues described him as a methodical, meticulous researcher with an atypical penant for adventure for a scientist.

He often organized expeditions to the most remote and difficultto-reach places, saying, “The most interesting things are always hidden where they are hardest to reach.

” This trait made him not only a successful geologist, but also an experienced mountaineer and hiker who had traversed most of the well-known routes on the west coast of the United States and Canada.

Caitlyn Mercer, 2 years younger than Ethan, grew up in the suburbs of Phoenix in a family of doctors.

However, unlike her parents, she was drawn to art from an early age.

At 16, she received her first professional camera as a birthday present.

Since then, photography has been her passion.

After graduating from Parson’s School of Art in New York, Caitlyn returned to Arizona where she quickly made a name for herself as a nature and wilderness photographer.

Her work was distinguished by a unique approach to light and color, an ability to capture the subtlest shades of desert landscapes that most people found monotonous and colorless.

“There is no emptiness in the desert,” she said in an interview with Arizona Quarterly Art Magazine a few months before her disappearance.

“It is a living organism with many shades and moods.

Every hour of the day, the light changes everything around, revealing the depth and richness of what at first seems to be just sand and stones.

Short, slender, with curly brown hair, which she often wore in a casual hairstyle and bright blue eyes, Caitlyn was energetic and sociable.

Her friends remembered her as an adventurer with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for life and nature.

She had taken special wilderness survival courses and regularly participated in multi-day hikes and expeditions to the most remote corners of the state.

Ethan and Caitlyn met at an art exhibition in Tucson dedicated to the geology and landscapes of the Southwest.

He was a guest expert and she was exhibiting her photographs.

Their acquaintance quickly blossomed into a romantic relationship cemented by a shared passion for nature and travel.

Over the next two years, they went on several expeditions together, combining his scientific interests with her artistic vision.

Their last trip was planned with particular care.

According to friends and colleagues, Ethan spent months studying topographic maps of the northern part of the Grand Canyon, looking for little known and rarely visited areas.

>> >> He was particularly interested in geological anomalies recorded by a University of Colorado expedition in the early 2000s in the Navajo Point side branch of the canyon.

He was obsessed with this route.

Dr.

Alan Woods, Ethan’s colleague in the department, later recalled, “He showed me old expedition reports that mentioned strange cave formations that did not correspond to the general geological structure of the canyon.

He talked about the possibility of discovering a new network of caves with unique minological properties.

This expedition was also of special significance to Caitlyn.

She was preparing a solo exhibition entitled Hidden Worlds for a prestigious gallery in Santa Fe, and photographs from unexplored parts of the Grand Canyon were to be its centerpiece.

She was particularly interested in the interaction of light with various geological formations in hard-to-reach places where people rarely go, said Emily Donovan, the gallery’s curator.

Preparations for the expedition took over a month.

Caitlyn and Ethan mapped out a detailed 5-day itinerary with daily viewpoints, potential campsites, and an extra 2 days worth of supplies in case of unforeseen circumstances.

They obtained all the necessary permits from the National Park Administration, including special permission to explore restricted areas.

The week before departure was spent in active preparation.

Ethan spent several days at the university completing current projects and consulting with colleagues about the geological features of the chosen route.

Caitlyn inventoried and updated her photography equipment, purchased a new waterproof case and extra batteries designed for long-term use without access to electricity.

On Tuesday, October 5th, a week before their planned departure, the couple threw a small party for friends at their home in the suburbs of Tucson.

They were in high spirits, full of plans and expectations, recalled Sarah Leavinsky, Caitlyn’s best friend.

Ethan spread out maps on the table and excitedly showed us all the route, emphasizing one section in particular where he said there could be the most interesting geological find of the decade.

Caitlyn joked that he was already planning his Nobel Prize speech.

The next few days were spent buying equipment and provisions.

The couple visited several specialty stores in Tucson and Phoenix where they purchased the latest hiking equipment, an ultra- light but spacious tent, sleeping bags designed for low desert night temperatures, a portable water purification system, and special high calorie dry rations.

“They were experienced hikers and didn’t skimp on safety,” said Jason Rivers, owner of Mountain Gear in Tucson.

They bought the latest model GPS navigator with satellite communication, a spare battery, and signal flares.

Ethan joked that they were preparing as if they were going to climb Everest, not hike in a wellstudied national park.

3 days before departure, Caitlyn posted a series of photos on her Instagram with the caption, “Starting the most exciting adventure of the year.

5 days in the wild part of the Grand Canyon.

New Roots, New Horizons.

Stay tuned for updates.

The post garnered hundreds of likes and comments from her numerous followers.

The couple spent the last day before departure, October 11th, packing their backpacks and checking their equipment.

In the evening, Caitlyn called her parents, who were on a business trip in Boston at the time.

She sounded happy and excited, recalled her mother, Elizabeth Mercer.

She talked about all the places they planned to visit and promised to send photos every day when she had a connection.

Her last words were, “Don’t worry, we’ll be careful.

See you in a week.” That same evening, Ethan sent an email to his research adviser, Professor Michael Gardner, with a detailed description of the root and geological features he planned to study.

In the letter, he mentioned anomalous cave formations and strange acoustic phenomena recorded by previous expeditions and expressed his hope to find a scientific explanation for them.

If my hypothesis is correct, he wrote, we may be on the verge of a discovery that will change our understanding of the geological history of the region.

Early in the morning on October 20th, Ethan and Caitlyn left their home in Tucson in a rented SUV, heading for the north entrance of Grand Canyon National Park.

A surveillance camera at a gas station in Flagstaff captured them at a.m., smiling and enthusiastic, unaware that in a few days they would become the central figures in one of the most mysterious disappearances in the history of the national park.

On October 12th, 2021, at a.m.

, Ethan and Caitlyn arrived at the north entrance of Grand Canyon National Park.

The sun had not yet risen, but the sky in the east was already tinged with soft pink colors, promising a beautiful day.

The air temperature was around 50° F, a cool autumn morning, perfect for the start of a multi-day hike.

Ranger Deborah Clarkson checked their permits and registration form, which detailed their route.

They seemed prepared and confident, she later recalled during questioning.

They had all the necessary permits, maps, and even an additional satellite communication system.

I warned them about the difficult terrain in the northeast sector where they were headed.

But the man, Ethan, if I’m not mistaken, assured me that they were familiar with the area and had already completed similar routes.

At a.m., Ethan and Caitlyn left their SUV in the parking lot at the start of the Navajo Point Trail and set off on foot, carrying backpacks weighing about 35 lbs each.

The surveillance camera at the start of the trail recorded them as the last ones.

Ethan in a dark blue fleece jacket, khaki pants, and sturdy hiking boots with a burgundy backpack.

Caitlyn in a light gray windbreaker, dark pants, and a blue backpack with bright yellow accents.

Both looked happy, stopping periodically to take pictures of the first impressive views of the canyon in the morning sun.

The first day of the hike passed without incident.

According to the geoloccation tags left by Ethan’s GPS navigator, the couple had walked about 8 miles from the trail head, gradually descending deeper into the canyon.

At p.m., they set up their first camp on a small plateau overlooking the western part of the canyon.

At p.m., Caitlyn posted a series of photos from the first day of the hike on Instagram.

Stunning panoramic shots of the canyon with different light and shadow effects, close-ups of geological formations that Ethan obviously found interesting, and a few selfies against the backdrop of incredible scenery.

The caption to the post was energetic and positive.

Day one, 8 mi behind us.

Each one a separate universe of beauty and grandeur.

Can’t wait to see what’s next.

Grand Canyon should discover wild nature.

Trigger, Arizona.

The last message that day was sent by Ethan to his colleague, Dr.

Woods, [mu sic] at p.m.

The first day exceeded expectations.

Found some interesting samples of intrusive rocks that do not match the general geological profile of this area.

Tomorrow, we’re moving further east to the area marked on the expedition maps from 2000.

The second day of the trip, October 13th, was even more intense.

According to GPS data, the pair covered almost 10 miles, mostly moving northeast, away from traditional tourist routes.

The terrain became increasingly difficult.

Narrow paths, steep ascents and descents, crossings of small seasonal streams that usually dried up by mid-autumn.

Activity on social media that day was minimal due to limited mobile phone access deep in the canyon.

The only evidence of their progress was a short post by Caitlyn around noon.

A photo of a bright red rock with distinct horizontal stripes of different shades and the caption 200 million years of Earth’s history in one frame.

Ethan says it’s a book of time open to those who can read its pages.

The second camp, according to the GPS navigator, was set up on an inconspicuous clearing protected by rocks on three sides about 600 yardds from a small seasonal waterfall, which fortunately for the travelers had not yet dried up.

The last message of the day was an SMS sent by Ethan to his father at p.m.

Everything is going according to plan, a few miles to our destination.

Communication may be unstable for the next few days.

Don’t worry.

The third day of the trip, October 14th, was the last day the couple sent any messages.

The GPS navigator showed that they had left their camp at a.m.

and were moving slower than on previous days, often stopping for long periods of time at the same points.

The total distance covered that day was only about 3 and 1/2 m, but the route was difficult.

They descended 3,000 ft down one of the steepest slopes in this part of the canyon.

Such a change in pace could mean that they found something interesting to explore, explained Dr.

Emma Riley, a geologist who participated in the search operation.

Or more likely, the difficulty of the route far exceeded their expectations.

This section of the canyon is unofficially known as Hell’s Trail among experienced hikers because of its steepness and unstable ground.

At p.m., the GPS navigator recorded the couple’s last location, a small plateau at an altitude of approximately 3,600 ft above sea level, about 4 mi east of the nearest known hiking trail.

It was from there that at p.m.

Caitlyn posted her last photo on Instagram, a selfie with Ethan against the backdrop of the sunset, which painted the canyon walls in deep shades of red and purple.

Both of their faces glowed with joy.

The caption to the photo became the subject of much speculation and research.

Found something incredible.

Going to explore tomorrow.

If everything is as Ethan thinks, it could change the history of this place.

Finch Mercer Expedition, Secret Places of the Grand Canyon.

The last message from the couple was a short text sent by Ethan to Professor Gardner at p.m.

Mike, this is more than we could have hoped for.

We found the entrance to a cave system that isn’t marked on any maps.

The first few yards show signs of stonework.

It’s not a natural formation.

The acoustics are strange.

We plan to do a detailed survey tomorrow.

I’ll send photos when we return to a location with better signal.

This message later became the key to understanding what might have happened to the pair.

But at that moment, Professor Gardner simply replied with a brief, “Be careful.

I’m waiting for details.

” And continued with his work, unaware that this would be his last contact with his colleague and friend.

On October 15th, 16 and 17, there were no messages from the couple.

The GPS navigator did not transmit any new data and there were no updates on social media.

On October 17th, when the couple did not show up at the planned checkpoint and did not respond to calls and messages, Caitlyn’s parents contacted the National Park Administration.

They were always punctual and responsible, Elizabeth Mercer said in an interview with local news.

If Caitlyn said they would be back on the 17th, then they should have been back.

When that didn’t happen, we knew immediately that something was wrong.

The search operation began at a.m.

on October 18th.

Two groups of rangers set out on the route indicated on the couple’s registration form and confirmed by GPS data.

The main group, led by senior ranger Tyler Jenkins, reached the couple’s last known location around 400 p.m.

The camp was intact and clean, Jenkins recalled during a press briefing a week later.

The tent was properly set up with their belongings neatly packed inside.

Food and water supplies were almost untouched.

Less than a third had been consumed.

There were no signs of a struggle, animal attack, or panic.

Their sleeping bags were laid out as if they had planned to return for the night.

The most concerning thing was that all of the couple’s personal belongings were left at the camp.

passports, wallets with cash and bank cards, spare clothes, a first aid kit, even a GPS navigator, which apparently was deliberately left on a solar powered charger.

The only things not found in the camp were Caitlyn’s camera and a small backpack, which according to her parents, she usually carried with her essentials for short hikes.

It felt like they had literally gone out for a few hours and planned to return, said Ranger Lindseay Coleman, who participated in the search operation.

Even the water bottles were full and the dry rations were prepared for the next day.

The only clue was Caitlyn’s diary found in her sleeping bag.

The last entry, dated October 14th, described an unusual geological formation they had found about a mile northeast of the camp.

Ethan is convinced that this cave is not just a geological formation.

Sounds from the depths, strange drawings on the walls.

Tomorrow, we’re going to explore deeper.

Search teams immediately expanded the search area, focusing on the northeast direction from the camp.

However, the difficult terrain, numerous crevices, cliffs, and unstable slopes made the task much more difficult.

Every day for the next 3 weeks, dozens of rangers, volunteers, and professional rescuers searched the area within a 5mi radius of the couple’s last known location, but to no avail.

Helicopters with thermal imaging cameras surveyed the area.

Search dogs tried to pick up a scent, and drones with high sensitivity cameras recorded every square yard of the territory.

But the mysterious disappearance of Ethan Finch and Caitlyn Mercer remained unsolved, as if the earth had simply opened up and swallowed them, leaving no trace.

On October 19th, 2021, the scale of the search operation increased dramatically.

The Cookanino County Sheriff’s Office declared a state of emergency, which allowed for the mobilization of additional resources and personnel.

The National Park Rangers were joined by special search and rescue teams from neighboring counties, volunteers from Arizona and Utah Mountain Rescue Services, and a group of wilderness search specialists from the FBI.

We have launched one of the largest search operations in the last decade, Sheriff Michael Brennan said during a press conference on October 20th.

More than 120 people, eight search dogs, three helicopters, and 12 drones with thermal imaging cameras are involved.

Our task is to comb every inch of the territory within a 10-mi radius of the couple’s last known location.

The area where Ethan and Caitlyn disappeared is known for its harsh conditions, even among experienced hikers.

The northeastern sector of the Grand Canyon is characterized by numerous narrow gorges, unstable slopes, and a confusing network of natural tunnels and caves, many of which remain unexplored due to their inaccessibility.

“It’s like looking for a needle in a hay stack, but every blade of hay could be a deadly trap,” said Jeremy Harris, head of the Cookanino County Search and Rescue Team, describing the complexity of the operation.

We have to be extremely careful not to create additional risks for our rescuers.

The search teams methodically divided the area into sectors using GPS coordinates to accurately track the areas searched.

Each team consisted of at least four people including a medic and a navigation specialist.

Communication was carried out via satellite phones as mobile communication deep in the canyon was unstable or non-existent.

Helicopters surveyed the area from the air, focusing on open areas where people would be easier to spot.

Search dogs worked in the most difficult areas, trying to pick up the scent of the missing persons.

Drones with highly sensitive cameras penetrated gorges and caves that were too dangerous for humans.

On October 21st, the first breakthrough in the investigation occurred.

A team searching the northeast sector about a mile from Ethan and Caitlyn’s camp found a small women’s backpack hidden under a rock ledge.

“The backpack was intact with no visible damage,” said Ranger Alex Sanders, who found it.

“Inside, we found a second, smaller journal belonging to Caitlyn, a bottle of water, several energy bars, a miniature flashlight, and a spare battery for a camera.

It looked as if the backpack had been deliberately left or hidden in case they needed to return for it.

The diary was the most important find.

Unlike the first one found at the camp, this one contained more detailed entries made between October 14th and 15th.

In the last entry, dated October 15th at a.m., Caitlyn wrote, “Didn’t sleep all night.

Sounds from deep inside the tunnel kept me awake, like muffled voices or vibrations pulsing with some strange rhythm.

Ethan is convinced it’s just the wind or water.

But I feel something else.

We managed to penetrate about 200 yd deep.

The walls of the tunnel are covered with strange symbols unlike any known petroglyphs of the southwestern Indians.

Ethan says they may be much older.

Today we plan to go deeper to the large hall.

we noticed around the bend.

I took spare batteries and an extra flash drive.

If we really found what Ethan suspects, a prehistoric settlement inside the canyon, it will be a sensation.

This entry immediately changed the focus of the search operation.

Teams were redirected to search for cave entrances and underground tunnels in the specified area.

Geologists and archaeologists involved in the search began analyzing old maps and expedition reports, looking for any mention of underground structures in this part of the canyon.

The problem was that this part of the Grand Canyon is literally riddled with small caves and crevices, explained Dr.

Daniel Kramer, a geologist at the University of Arizona, who advised the search team.

Most of them only extend a few yards deep, but some can form complex labyrinths.

In addition, constant erosion and seasonal landslides can open new entrances or close old ones.

On October 23rd, a helicopter equipped with ground penetrating radar detected an anomaly, a possible cavity beneath the surface about a quarter of a mile from where the backpack was found.

A team of cavers was immediately dispatched to investigate.

We found a narrow vertical opening almost invisible from above, said Roger Meyers, leader of the caving team.

It led to a cave measuring about 30 by 50 ft.

There were clear signs of human presence on the walls, handprints, soot marks, possibly from a torch.

But most interestingly, we discovered a continuation of the cave in the form of a narrow horizontal tunnel that went deeper into the rock.

The team of speliologists explored the tunnel to a depth of about 300 yd before stopping in front of a partial collapse that blocked the way forward.

Photographs taken in the tunnel confirmed the presence of petroglyphs similar to those described by Caitlyn in her diary.

The symbols do not correspond to any of the Native American styles known to us in this region, confirmed Dr.

Andrew White, an archaeologist specializing in pre-Colombian American cultures.

They are more abstract and geometric in nature and may be much older than we initially assumed.

Over the next few days, the search operation focused on clearing the tunnel of debris and exploring possible alternative entrances to the underground system.

However, on October 28th, weather conditions began to deteriorate rapidly.

The weather service warned of an approaching early cold front with possible snowfall at altitudes above 6,000 ft.

This made the situation much more difficult.

Sheriff Brennan recalled, “We were already working in extremely difficult conditions, and now the risk to our rescuers was increasing exponentially.” On October 30th, when the first snow began to fall on the northern edge of the Grand Canyon, the search operation leadership made the difficult decision to scale back the search.

Most of the volunteers and special teams were called off, leaving only small professional teams of cavers and rangers who continued their work despite the worsening weather.

On November 3rd, after nearly 2 weeks of almost continuous snowfall and temperatures dropping to record lows for this time of year, the search operation was officially placed on standby.

This meant that active searches were suspended, but rangers continued to patrol the area during their regular rounds, and a special hotline remained open for reports of any leads.

It was one of the hardest decisions of my career, admitted Tyler Jenkins, senior ranger at the national park.

But with winter approaching, we simply couldn’t risk the lives of rescuers in this dangerous terrain.

We didn’t stop the search completely.

We just adapted our strategy to the real conditions.

The families of the missing accepted the news with understanding, albeit with deep sadness.

“We are grateful to everyone who participated in the search,” said Robert Finch, Ethan’s father, at a press conference on November 4th.

But we also understand that the safety of rescuers is a priority.

We have not lost hope of finding our children alive.

With the onset of winter, nature reclaimed the remote areas of the Grand Canyon, covering all traces and clues that could lead to the mystery of Ethan Finch and Caitlyn Mercer’s disappearance with snow and ice.

September 2023.

Almost 2 years had passed since Ethan Finch and Caitlyn Mercer disappeared into the depths of the Grand Canyon.

Much had changed during that time, but their case remained open like a wound that refused to heal.

In a small conference room at the Grand Canyon Lodge, the annual meeting of the Finch Mercer Wilderness Search Foundation was underway.

Elizabeth and James Mercer, Caitlyn’s parents, sat at the head table alongside Robert Finch, Ethan’s father.

Their faces, once full of hope and determination, now bore the marks of longlasting grief, which had not diminished over time, but had only transformed into quiet, steadfast resolve.

Tomorrow marks exactly 2 years since our children disappeared.

Elizabeth began her speech, her voice quiet but confident.

During this time, our foundation has helped 42 families whose loved ones have disappeared in US national parks.

We have funded the development of new search technology, the training of 10 search dogs, and the installation of additional rescue beacons on the most dangerous routes in the Grand Canyon.

The Finch Mercer Wilderness Search and Rescue Fund was established by the family 6 months after the couple’s disappearance.

Initial funding came from the family’s personal savings and insurance payments, and later the fund began to receive donations from concerned individuals across the country.

Within two years, the organization had become an influential force, not only searching for the missing, but also preventing similar cases by installing additional safety equipment on tourist routes, developing training programs for tourists, and supporting research into new search and rescue technologies.

We can’t bring Ethan and Caitlyn back, Robert Finch said in an interview for the documentary Lost in the Wild, released by National Geographic a few months before the second anniversary of their disappearance.

But we can do everything possible to ensure that other families don’t have to go through what we went through so that other children can come home.

The case was not officially closed, but over time, active searches ceased.

A team of investigators from the FBI and the National Park Service periodically reviewed the case files, bringing in new experts and applying new data analysis methodologies.

However, no significant progress was made.

Over 2 years, experts proposed numerous theories about the fate of the young couple.

Four main versions dominated, each of which had its supporters among experts.

The first most prosaic version claimed that the couple had been victims of an accident, falling off a cliff, into a ravine, or in a cave collapse.

“The statistics are relentless,” explained Dr.

Martin Harrison, an expert in survival in extreme conditions.

Every year, about 150 people die in US national parks, and a significant portion of these deaths are related to falls while hiking.

The Grand Canyon with its complex terrain is particularly dangerous.

The second version suggested that the disappearance was criminal in nature.

Some criminologists pointed to the unusual cleanliness of the disappearance, the absence of any signs of struggle or panic at the camp.

Such neatness suggests the involvement of third parties, former FBI agent James Riley argued in a series of articles for the Arizona Republic.

Perhaps the couple stumbled upon something they shouldn’t have seen.

An illegal weapons cash, a drug lab, or archaeological treasures that someone was trying to smuggle out.

A third theory, which gained popularity in certain circles, suggested voluntary disappearance.

“Ethan and Caitlyn were young, talented, with great prospects,” said Dr.

Lawrence King, a psychologist specializing in missing person’s cases.

But they also had a romantic vision of life in the wild.

It is possible that they found a place that perfectly matched their idea of a perfect world and decided to disappear from the radar of civilization.

The fourth most exotic version was based on Caitlyn’s diary entries and the results of an examination of the cave that was found.

The symbols found on the walls do not correspond to any known culture of pre-Colombian America, explained Dr.

Sarah Goldstein, an archaeologist at the University of Chicago.

They bear a certain resemblance to protorean writing, but are not identical to it.

This suggests that an unknown science culture may have existed in the depths of the Grand Canyon, possibly much older than we think.

Over the course of two years, media coverage of the disappearance has significantly decreased.

While in the first few months, the story of Ethan and Caitlyn was front page news and a major topic in the news, over time, public interest naturally waned.

Only once a year, on the eve of the anniversary of their disappearance, did the story reappear in the media.

That’s how the news cycle works, explained Emily Donovan, curator of the postumous exhibition of Caitlyn’s photographs at the Santa Fe Gallery.

It’s hard for people to maintain an emotional connection to a tragedy that doesn’t directly affect them over a long period of time, but that doesn’t mean Ethan and Caitlyn’s story has been forgotten.

It has simply become part of the cultural context, a background reminder of the fragility of human life in the face of nature.

Despite the decline in media coverage, interest in the case has even grown over time in certain circles.

Online communities of amateur researchers have emerged, analyzing every detail of the case, developing their own theories, and organizing unofficial expeditions to the site of the disappearance.

Some of these groups have since become active volunteers for the foundation.

Every year on the anniversary of the disappearance, the foundation organized a symbolic search expedition involving professional rescuers, volunteers, and family members of the missing.

The first such expedition conducted exactly one year after the tragedy brought together more than 200 people.

The second two years later was more modest with about 70 participants, mostly professionals and volunteers who worked with the foundation on a regular basis.

“We understand that the chances of finding Ethan and Caitlyn alive after so much time are minimal,” Elizabeth Mercer acknowledged on the eve of the second anniversary.

“But these expeditions have symbolic significance.

They show that we have not forgotten, that we have not given up the search.

In addition, each such expedition allows us to test new technologies and search methods that can then be used to rescue other missing persons.

Over the past 2 years, several thorough scientific studies have been conducted in the area where they disappeared.

Geologists have studied in detail the cave where the mysterious symbols were found and the surrounding area.

Archaeologists have made three-dimensional scans of the petroglyphs for further analysis.

Soil and organic material samples were sent to laboratories for dating and analysis.

We still don’t know what happened to Ethan and Caitlyn, concluded Tyler Jenkins, the senior ranger who led the initial search operation.

But we do know that their disappearance changed our perception of safety in national parks.

Thanks to the foundation created by their families, we now have better infrastructure, better search and rescue protocols, and more resources to help those in distress in the wilderness.

That evening, the day before the second anniversary of their disappearance, participants in the foundation’s annual meeting held a traditional candle lighting ceremony at the Navajo Point overlook, which offered a view of the canyon that had swallowed Ethan and Caitlyn.

In the quiet flicker of dozens of lights battling the evening wind, no one could have predicted that the next day would bring news that would stir not only their hearts, but the entire world.

On September 23rd, 2023, a group of five tourists from Colorado set out at dawn to explore the southeastern route of the Grand Canyon known as the Tanto Trail.

It was an unpopular, difficult trail recommended only for experienced travelers.

>> >> The weather was perfect.

Clear skies, a temperature of around 70° F, and a light westerly breeze.

We decided to take this route precisely because of its remoteness.

Jane Harrison, a 30-year-old teacher from Denver who led the group, later recounted.

We wanted to see the part of the canyon that most tourists miss.

At around a.m., after walking about 4 miles from the trail head, the group stopped for a short rest at a small natural spring.

It was then that Chris Donovan, the most experienced hiker among them, noticed something strange on the opposite slope of the gorge.

“At first, I thought it was some kind of animal, maybe a mountain goat, judging by the movement,” Donovan recalled in an interview with the local newspaper Arizona Daily Sun.

But when I looked through my binoculars, I saw that it was a person.

He was moving very slowly, almost crawling, clinging to the rocks.

The group immediately changed their route and headed toward the figure.

Due to the difficult terrain, it took them almost 45 minutes to reach the spot.

What they saw shocked even the most experienced among them.

It was a man, but in a condition I had never seen before, said Samantha Wong, a resident doctor in the group.

He was incredibly thin, with long, tangled hair and a beard, dressed in rags that had once been tourist clothing.

His skin was so pale that it seemed almost transparent with visible veins.

But what struck me most were his eyes, wide open, unnaturally bright, as if faded, and he was constantly squinting, even though we were standing in the shade of the rocks.

The man was in a state of extreme exhaustion and disorientation.

When the tourists approached him, he tried to crawl away, making strange guttural sounds.

Only when Wong slowly held out a bottle of water to him did he stop and reach out a trembling hand.

It seemed like he hadn’t spoken in months, she recalled.

His first words were almost unintelligible, as if he had forgotten how to use his vocal cords.

But gradually, after a few sips of water, he began to form words.

The first thing we heard clearly was, “Caitlyn, she’s still down there.” Using a satellite phone, the tourists contacted the Grand Canyon Ranger Service and reported their discovery.

An hour later, a helicopter arrived with a medical ranger on board.

For Michael Ryder, a ranger with 15 years of experience, it was a routine 13 call, a possible discovery of a missing person.

He had no idea that he was about to witness one of the most remarkable turns in the history of the national park.

When I saw the man, my first thought was that he had clearly spent a long time without proper food, water, or sunlight.

Ryder said, “We often encounter tourists who have gotten lost and spent several days in the wilderness, but this case was different.

His condition indicated a much longer period of isolation.

While the medic prepared a stretcher for transport, Ryder conducted a preliminary examination of the man’s belongings.

He had nothing but the rags on his body and a strange object hanging from a leather cord around his neck.

A copper medallion about the size of a dollar coin covered with strange symbols resembling geometric patterns.

When I asked him where the medallion came from, he clutched it tightly in his hand and whispered something like key card.

They gave it to him to find his way back.

Ryder recalled, “At that moment, I thought he was delirious from dehydration and exhaustion.

At p.m., the man was loaded onto a helicopter and taken to Flagstaff Medical Center.

Only there, after checking his fingerprints against the National Database, was the incredible discovery made.

The patient was Ethan Finch, who had disappeared in the Grand Canyon almost 2 years earlier.

The news instantly spread throughout the medical center.

By evening, journalists from all the local media outlets had gathered outside the hospital.

The head of security was forced to post additional guards outside Ethan’s room, and the chief physician called in specialists from various fields for consultation.

The patients condition was stable but extremely unusual, reported Dr.

David Chen, who led the medical team.

Ethan suffered from severe exhaustion, micronutrient, and vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin D, indicating prolonged exposure to sunlight.

His muscle tissue was significantly atrophied, although not as much as might be expected after 2 years without proper nutrition and physical activity.

The most concerning symptoms were neurological.

Ethan was hyper sensitive to light.

Even the dim lighting in the ward causing him to squint in pain.

His eyes, once dark brown, had taken on a strange pale amber hue.

According to his relatives, his pupils reacted to light in an unusual way, constricting vertically like a cat’s rather than circularly like a humans.

This type of adaptation is sometimes seen in people who have spent many months in darkness, such as miners trapped in cave-ins, explained Dr.

Natalie Smith, an opthalmologist consulted for the case.

But I have never seen such pronounced changes.

It’s as if his eyes have evolved to live in constant darkness.

Blood tests also showed abnormalities.

Hemoglobin levels were elevated, which is typical for people who live at high altitudes where the air is thin.

Traces of unknown metabolites were also found, which the laboratory was unable to identify with its databases.

“Ethan Finch’s medical case is unprecedented,” Dr.

Chen said at a press briefing that evening.

We can say with confidence that he spent a long time in conditions radically different from the normal human environment without sunlight, possibly with limited access to food and water, but clearly not in a state of complete starvation.

We will be able to provide more information after all the analyses have been completed.

The medallion found on Ethan was sent for analysis to experts in archaeology and metallurgy.

A preliminary examination showed that it was made of unusually pure copper with impurities of unknown elements and the symbols on it did not correspond to any of the known writing systems or ornaments of the indigenous peoples of America.

While experts were racking their brains over the mysteries surrounding Ethan’s return, he himself was gradually regaining his ability to speak.

His first coherent sentences recorded by the nurse on duty were disturbing.

They didn’t let us back in.

Caitlyn is still there.

Time flows differently there.

On October 5th, 2023, 2 weeks after Ethan Finch’s miraculous return, a closed press conference was held at the North Arizona Medical Center.

The journalist present had to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding certain details related to the medical aspects of the patients condition.

Ethan himself was not at the press conference.

Doctors insisted on continuing quarantine and limiting contact, citing his weakened immune system and psychological vulnerability.

Mr.

Finch’s condition has stabilized but remains atypical.

Dr.

Chen said he has agreed to share some aspects of his story to assist in the search for Ms.

Mercer, who he says is still in the cave system beneath the Grand Canyon.

The recorded video interview with Ethan shown to reporters was striking in its surrealism.

A pale man with long hair tied back in a ponytail, spoke in a quiet, often broken voice.

His eyes, unusually light for a man who had had dark brown eyes before his disappearance, were covered with special medical glasses with an ultraviolet filter.

We found the entrance to the cave on the third day of our hike,” Ethan said, his fingers nervously fingering a copper medallion that he refused to take off even during medical procedures.

It was a narrow opening, almost invisible among the rocks.

Inside, we found evidence of an ancient civilization.

Symbols on the walls, strangely shaped pottery, copper tools of incredible purity.

As a geologist, I immediately realized that this discovery could change our understanding of prehistoric cultures in North America.

According to Ethan, he and Caitlyn decided to explore the cave in more detail, which turned out to be the entrance to a branched network of underground tunnels.

On the fourth day of the expedition, as they ventured deeper into the cave system, they encountered a strange acoustic phenomenon.

Sounds resembling muffled voices that seemed to emanate from the depths of the tunnels.

“We decided to follow the sounds,” Ethan recounted.

It was an irrational decision, but we were driven by a mixture of scientific curiosity and something else.

It was as if the sounds were calling us.

The most surprising part of the story was what happened next.

Ethan claimed that he and Caitlyn spent much more than 2 years underground.

According to him, deep within the tunnels, they discovered a huge underground hall with its own ecosystem.

phosphorescent mushrooms that gave off a faint light.

An underground lake with clear mineralized water and air saturated with strange spores that, as he now understood, affected their perception of time and space.

Caitlyn documented everything with her camera, he said.

Hundreds of photographs as evidence, but then something unexpected happened.

As we were trying to find our way back, there was a partial collapse.

We were separated.

I shouted her name for hours, but there was no answer.

And then I found this medallion.

Ethan described how he wandered through the tunnels for what felt like months or years, using the medallion as a kind of compass.

The symbols on it change depending on the direction.

It’s not just jewelry, it’s a map, a navigation tool in the underground labyrinth.

The most shocking element of Ethan’s story was his conviction that Caitlyn was still alive even though 2 years had passed.

Down there, time flows differently, he insisted.

What is 2 years for you could be a few weeks for us.

I have to go back for her.

She’s waiting for me.

Medical tests conducted by Dr.

Chen’s team revealed an enzyme unknown to science in Ethan’s blood, which according to biochemists could affect metabolism and perception of time.

This enzyme acts on the areas of the brain responsible for circadian rhythms and time perception, explained Dr.

Anna Gutierrez, a neurochemist.

Theoretically, it could slow down the subjective perception of time, making a person feels as minutes.

Analysis of the copper medallion by archaeologists and metallurgists confirmed its extraordinary antiquity.

Radiocarbon dating of organic residues on the leather cord established its age at over 5,000 years.

The metal’s composition included elements that do not normally occur together in nature, indicating highly advanced processing technology.

Most impressive is that the symbols on the medallion were identical to those found in the cave where the couple disappeared, reported Dr.

White, an archaeologist.

Moreover, we found similar symbols in petroglyphs in various parts of the southwestern states that we had previously been unable to decipher.

It seems that we have stumbled upon traces of an unknown civilization that may have existed in these territories long before the cultures we know today.

The story itself might seem fantastical if it weren’t for a strange incident that occurred on the 10th day of Ethan’s stay in the hospital.

Surveillance cameras recorded how late at night he got out of bed and in a state similar to somnambulism began to draw complex symbols on the wall of the ward identical to those on the medallion.

After repeating this pattern three times, he returned to bed and continued sleeping.

We cannot explain this phenomenon from the point of view of modern science, Dr.

Chen admitted.

But we cannot ignore the facts.

Something happened to Ethan Finch during his 2-year absence.

Something that changed his physiology and perception.

3 weeks after his return, Ethan Finch suddenly disappeared from the hospital without a trace.

The only clue was a note found in his room.

I have to go back for Caitlyn.

Time flows differently down there.

She’s still waiting.

The search was immediately resumed, but as two years ago, it yielded no results.

The story of Ethan Finch and Caitlyn Mercer remains one of the greatest mysteries of the Grand Canyon, raising questions that modern science has yet to answer.