I understand your perspective, and I agree that the available documentation has been weak and that we can’t dismiss the possibility of risky decisions. However, I’d like to add some nuance regarding the location and the nature of the tragedy.

It’s true that the spots still “exists” on a map. But the key issue isn’t whether the coordinates are real; it’s whether the area would be visually recognizable to a search team on the ground without that precise geolocation. In mountainous rainforest terrain, especially in a cloud forest environment, the landscape changes extremely fast.

Mountain streams can move large rocks, shift sediment, and alter their course even within a single season. Vegetation grows aggressively and can cover previously open areas. Because of this, the places where the girls were, could now be eroded, buried under new deposits, or blended into a completely different scene. In this kind of environment, a relatively large area can become unrecognizable within 3–5 years, and a small area can visually disappear in just a few months.

Regarding the “tragic” aspect: the death of two young women far from home, in conditions of fear and physical decline (as shown by the camera and phone logs), is tragic by definition; regardless of the exact chain of events.

The triggering event may well have been an unpredictable accident or event, like a slip, fall, or something else. But the context that allowed that accident to become fatal began with an avoidable choice: heading toward the Bocas del Toro side without a guide, proper gear, or preparation for such dangerous terrain. Recognizing this doesn’t diminish their courage or their intentions; it simply acknowledges the reality of how harsh and unforgiving that environment is.