The really big red flag is that there were LARGE stones under his mat. That kind of mat gives a little warmth from the bare ground but is basically useless for good sleeping on even mildly uneven or rocky ground. No real hiker would lay a mat like that. It does seemed staged by "someone".

Saw a tent in a campsite years ago. Was abandoned as far as we could tell. Finally looked and a guy had shot himself. You never know. Cops seemed like this was a common occurrence.

Can’t imagine just not being worried enough about a friend to not do anything when they fail to show in this situation.

As a long distance hiker, I can’t see Chris’ gear, being found like it was, would’ve been set up that way by Chris…foul play is what my gut tells me. Looks more like his things, after being gone through, was set out by someone who doesn’t really understand how a backpacker hikes and what his daily life consists of. And someone who decides to make a suicide attempt doesn’t give a shit anymore. You don’t call a friend to pick you up if you intend to take your life. You just go off and do it.

The gear did look staged. The best friend is what came to my mind. 8 years and no resolution to this case. I feel for the family. 🌻👣

Sad that these stories exist. You're doing a great job telling them and I'd guess the families are thankful that loved ones are still known about and giving these attention.

His sleeping bag looks like it was just pulled straight out of its stuff sack and laid down on the mat quickly. His whole cowboy camp looks like it was set up by someone completely unfamiliar with camping/hiking and left there as a false lead. I suspect he’s met with foul play.

I wonder if the bff's story was ever checked out. They may have been close but there was tension for some reason. And he waited a whole week to report him. I'm very very skeptical. My spidey senses are telling me the bff knows a lot more than he's letting on 🤔😒

I live fairly close to Mike's Place (El Cajon) and I've never heard this story. This is a very well traveled area but it is in an elfin forest with a lot of large chaparral bushes that could easily hide a body. There are mountain lions in the area but attacks are super rare. Perhaps he went off to poop and was attached by a mountain lion and dragged off into the bushes? It would be really hard to find a body in this case. As a solo backpacker this sort of scenario is always a concern. I hope some answers come for his family's sake.

Congrats on the new sponsor! It's awesome how much your channel is growing!

You are so thorough and so respectful towards the people in your content. This is really sad and scary. 🧡🙏

The gear is set up for drying your quilt. But something spooked Chris to run away without grabbing his gear.

Just booked a quick camping trip, no better time to psych myself out 😬

I followed your hike last year as well as others. Started following people on the PCT this year which as been very challenging due to extreme and unusual weather. It begins to worry me when I have been following someone and then they quit posting new videos. I know everyone is busy and concentrating on their hike but after weeks of not hearing updates it does get a little scary. More scary when you know that someone is hiking on their own. Your video just made me think of those times that I have waited for an update, hoping people are ok.

I agree that the item placement is suspect. As for disappearing Willingly, there's no reason to leave gear and ID. He has every right to disappear and he can sell/trade his gear later. Cartel activity? They'd just shoot him and leave him nearby behind a Bush. When you mentioned Twelve Tribes having a presence on the PCT, I had to pause. That's a possibility. I don't think he met with random foul play. A bum would take all of his gear to sell, etc. Its a conundrum, for sure.

I never normally theorise about these cases, but as someone who has suffered with depression and strong suicidal ideation for my entire adult life, as soon as you talked about them finding his belongings I felt sure it was suicide. To someone who has thought about this stuff, all the pieces fit together. He rang his friend because he wanted to make things right because the suicide was planned. His gear was laid out like that because he knew what he was going to do and never intended to sleep there, so the rocks and stuff didn't matter. He left it close to the trail so it would be found easily, and he left his ID with his things so they would know who it had belonged to. He killed himself in this way because he didn't want his loved ones to know it was suicide in case they felt guilty. So in this way, they might just think it was an accident. He probably didn't even consider that they might think it was foul play. I think if someone had killed him, they would have hidden or destroyed his belongings or at least his ID to help cover their trail. If he had just wandered off and had an accident somewhere, they would have found his body. If he'd planned a suicide, he probably thought very hard about how he could guarantee he wouldn't be found. Of course it's possible he joined a cult or ran away to start a new life, but this is the scenario that made the most sense to me, and I didn't hear anything in your video that contradicted it. My heart is with his brother, the roomate, and all his loved ones as I'm sure it's heartbreaking not to have answers. But if it was suicide, I totally get it from his POV.

With a friend like that, who needs enemies? Especially best friends.

17 years in Search and Rescue leads me to believe he committed suicide. When doing an initial interview with family and friends the first question we ask is what was he/her mental state. If they were suffering from depression and especially have tried or thought of suicide in the past it’s almost always a body recovery from a suicide. Especially in men.

Let's goooooo, congrats on getting that manscaped sponsorship. Really cool seeing you get these sponsorships and stuff as your channel grows. These stories definitely have me taking more time to plan my hikes.

I’m not a hiker and I never have hiked but even I noticed the angle of the mat and the rocks underneath it. No human being would do that, we seek comfort.

I’ve been to that Buddhist temple! It’s called Lieu Quan Meditation Center. The gate is always open so you can just go in. Beautiful place! Mikes Place is like 5-7 miles down that dirt road. It ends at the Lost Valley Boy Scout camp. Definitely some wilderness area. I get a feeling he either took his own life or he was killed. Maybe he really did show up to the temple and the friend went back to his camp and they had a fight? The photo does look staged. I wish his parents got some closure. So sad.

If I were Chris' friend, I'm sure I would have tried calling Chris immediately to find out why he hadn't met me at the designated place. Also, curious to know why Chris did not have his ID on him.

A week later? Nah that friend didn’t wanna be burdened. He contacted the wrong person

My feeling is suicide. The staged scene but mainly the ID left behind. I think he called the friend to meet him there, knowing these items would be found. Years from now some hikers will probably be way off trail and will stumble upon his remains. My overall feeling was one of overwhelming depression and sadness. A very sad story.

My gut feeling says foul play. Think about it. Near southern border, alone, not really experienced and all his stuff was found. Unfortunately most crimes never get solved. The world is a pretty dangerous place so everyone please be careful out there.

It definitely looks like somebody wanted the gear found . Very strange.

I too am a backpacker, and the first thing I thought of is that it is highly unusual that you would see someone take out their sleeping materials literally right on the edge of the trail like that. Most hikers tend to find a spot off the trail where they can easily spread out their things to camp for the night and perhaps have some privacy. If Chris was depressed/suicidal, I don't see why he would have taken his bedroll out like that, unless he wanted to be sure someone would find him, and he had no way of writing a note. To me this looks like foul play, especially considering how close he was to the trail intersection, Mike's Place, and Buddhist temple. I am curious if the backpack is arranged properly inside, or if the contents were just randomly shoved in there like someone rummaged through it. Southern California is a rough place to go missing. I have no doubt he is out there somewhere, people just don't know where to look.

Kyle, these are excellent brother! Really loving your content and congrats on the new sponsor. Hopefully many more to come

Awesome job covering these trail mysteries, keep it up!

That photo was indeed disturbing. Everyone knows those accordion sleeping pads are awful.

It’s a little bit odd that his belongings were found on the same exact day he was reported missing. That’s not enough to prove foul play on the part of that person, but it is interesting

His 'friend' waited a full week to alert authorities that he was missing.

OMG, I agree with you in that this photo is definitely creepy and clearly staged. I pray that the authorities find some additional information about Chris and his disappearance. Sending love and prayers for Chris, his family and friends 👏💜👍🙏🤗♿️

Yeah. Did a lot of "camping" in the military, and that gear doesn't look right. That's in my neck of the woods, and there's a variety of random desert rats, drug smugglers, and illegals in the area so foul play is more plausible to me than it would be up North in the Sierras. There have been adult males taken by mountain lions in SOCAL, but I think they'd have found remains in that case.

Hey Kyle. Someone else mentioned this in the comments but what was the camo item that under his sleeping bag? Also, that tan glove looks like a military style kind of glove liner type thing. The other odd thing is even section hikers don’t travel with a blue poly tarp. I mean i do sometimes but I’m just weekender😁 and that was when i was hammock camping here in New England which I don’t do anymore. As a father of an adult daughter with severe bipolar and depression who herself has attempted you know what 3 times, my heart goes out to not only the family of this boy but this boy himself. I pray that his current existence is peaceful today. This series is really helpful for that part of the hiking community that is considering hiking the pct. Ive run into two armed nutters along the AT here in New England where we felt the need to change our plans. I think hiking with a garmin mini strapped to your backpack shoulder strap so the public can see that you have a way to contact loved ones can be an effective layer of safety as well as a whistle visible to the public. Take care man. NQU

Sad we haven’t found any answers so far:( hope one day the family and friends get closure of some sort

The only way I could see gear set up like that is if Chris was suffering from hypothermia and getting a bit delusional. I've dealt with early stages before and have had to pull over off the trail before to get warm. I didn't set up a tent or even pick the most logical spot. So I could see that. Doesn't explain why Chris wasn't there though and I could definitely see it being staged. The proximity to Mike's place is also strange. Mike's place has a reputation of being a party spot and a place to get drugs (although usually during peak thru-hiking season). The people there living a Mike's place were all kind and generous, but I did meet one really sketchy person hiking sobo that started there. Some sketchy people that may or may not be on hard drugs might definitely take advantage of a situation like that. Regardless of speculation, there's no denying that this situation is a tragedy and my heart goes out to Chris' family and friends. I hope that someday more answers will be found.

16:15 another scenario is that someone found the backpack loaded and abandoned then rifled through it for one reason or another. This is indeed a sad and sobering tale.

I'm new to the channel and I'm loving it. I'm not sure if you take requests, but if so, you should do a video on the 2 Dutch girls who went missing while hiking El Pianista Trail in Boquete, Panama. It's a very eerie & disturbing story, and I'd love to hear your take on it.

Why would he leave his gear if he was getting picked up?? This case is so strange! Praying for his family!

Love your narration of these tales. It's conversational... a bit of humor here and there, and offering conjecture and theories, along with hiking tips. Thx!

I can definitely lean into the 12 tribes theory. I live in San Diego county near one of the 12 tribe communities. It’s well known in our area that these members “prey” on young, vulnerable people. 12 tribes also has a local restaurant in which they’ll actually try to recruit patrons who are there dining alone. Last time I dined there I actually saw a flier posted on their wall asking for a donation of property off the PCT so they can provide food/shelter to backpackers… After watching this, it definitely makes me consider this theory as a possibility. If Chris was struggling mentally and came across one of these members, he may have run off with them to start a new life.

I'm with you; that gear wasn't set up for a cowboy camp. Looked to me like someone rifled through it to see if there were any valuables. The folded-up tarp and other things jumbled up alongside the sleeping pad and backpack don't look like anything you'd do for a cowboy camp or a daytime rest stop, it looks like somebody rifled the bag and then left the bag and pad like that to make it look more "normal" on the trail, and got out of there. Who or why? No idea.

I think his looks like it's just been pulled from the backpack. I see a rolled up tarpaulin and a camouflaged item above the backpack. I'd say he was getting his stuff out of the backpack, and put the sleep pad down because the sleeping bag would otherwise get dirty on the ground (assuming that the sleeping bag was not in a stuff sack). Perhaps he was looking for something deep in the bottom of the backpack - hence took out the tarpaulin etc, and was disturbed/alarmed by someone or something, so ran to cover, hurt himself and died from thirst or exposure?

This case is very strange and sad. The photo makes it all more eerie. At first glance of the photo I was for sure the way the sleeping bag was laying that he was in it. Thank God he wasn’t. My heart goes out to his family and friends. May God bring Chris home soon. ❤️

His friend killed him.

Thank you Kyle. Be safe out there guys! These are all sad and disturbing 🙏💔🕊️

Interesting story. Hadn't heard about Chris. I'm in the foul play camp. I wonder if anyone knows whether any money was missing. Thanks for bringing this story to our attention.

This "display" looks similar to someone laying down, holding their bag. Is there any info to which direction the incline was facing? - Sun rise or sunset? ( old outdoor signs/language ) Sunset - Mr Sylvia decided to end his life, and could be found not far from this belongings. Sun rise - This "display" was meant to be discovered, being a taunt/trophy/warning of some kind. Foul play was thought of from the start on the investigation, and stated again in articles written in 2020. Edit : It's interesting to hear that Mr Syvia's family believes he could have run off to start a new life. You would think it would be hard to stay hidden with all the coverage his case is receiving. . But, I hope this is the case.

Thank you for your reporting and your insight. I always learn something each time I watch on of your videos. Keep it up.

If Chris decided to get away from it all and clear his head of all the drama, the opposite result of long weeks in isolation could have been just as likely. It may have just exacerbated an existing mental health issue. He might have hastily laid out his belongings for someone to find before wandering off to end it all. It's disturbing that so many hikers go missing without ever being found, but given the terrain, wildlife, and huge expanse of wilderness it's understandable. I don't know how he and his friend were communicating to set up the meeting place/time, but when the meeting didn't happen it seems like that would have been a good time to report him missing.

Ive been watching your stuff for a while now and i gotta say, i dig your channel but this true crime/hiking thing is dope. Watching from my ultralight rocking chair.

Guys, modern pistols are light AF. Your personal security is all on you.

Definitely hard to believe anyone would lay how that was placed for sure

Excellent production, first class reporting! Fine work!

I like how you are very experienced and a great narrator but humble and nonjudgmental at the same time. This is very well done as always! Keep up your great work!

Love your storytelling! Keep it up!

Jealousy can be a killer. How clever; " friend" reported him missing.

You’re a great storyteller!! Do you think you could do some more videos like this every now and again? It’s a really cool/interesting addition to your channel

I need to get the mascape kit for my son and hubby. Thank you for reminding me and the offer. That is very kind.

I just subscribed. You're videos and stories are very interesting.

Love your videos dude thank you

Found your channel and have been power watching it, its entertaining, interesting and sort of addicting! You are awesome, thank you!

Why didn't the friend call him when he wasn't at the agreed rendezvous Chris had a phone? he did speak with his friend to ask him to collect him.

He did not run off, he called for the ride.

My favorite National Parks after Dark episode keep up the good work Cassie

I remember this story when I hike this area in 2021. Super close to Mike’s Place. I hope more info comes out soon.

No one is just going to leave their gear like that and disappear... I think there was some fowl play here, and or he got sick and got lost... but something just doesn't add up. Normally a person has their gear with or close to them. Just sad that he has never been found.

I agree with you . What's this stuff laid out like that it doesn't make sense, unless he was getting ready to set camp

Love your videos!

I want to know the ratio of people who complete any of the three triple crown hikes to the number of people Kyle profiles in a murder/disappearance video.

You don’t ever leave your gear. Ever

No I like how you dissected the story because it matters we're talking about a person that is still missing like frig it's a big deal so it's nice of you to do this telling this important story so well...and you're doing a wonderful job on it 👍

Is it possible that he placed most of his gear/ bedding late in the dark, meaning to improve the ground and get rid of rocks later after he got back from a toilet break, but got lost? I used to sail from tiny island to island and it reminds me of how I would handle my gear. Though I would sit on my mat and sleeping bag while setting up a tiny tent.

1000000000% my intuition tells me someone staged the gear 😩😭 hearing you give your opinion.. def makes it so much more eerie too. I watch all your vids and I’ve never heard you give one like that. Makes it scarier for some reason.

If we ever leave all our stuff, it's foul play. Get 'em. 🚌 Also, if I ever go missing while hiking please do my story.

So they canceled the search for weather, but his gear is clean and dry?

Hmm , I think the cops need to take a MUCH CLOSER look at his friend

It appears staged to me as well. If he did commit suicide, why do that with the gear? And no note? That is abnormal for those who want help and can't or won't get it. They always need to say "Sorry." I think the friend that was to meet him has a role. I gotta be honest, at first glance, it looks like a body in the bag. Obviously there isn't but it just appears to me that way.

I'm not a hiker and I immediately thought the photo looked staged.

I wonder if a mountain lion got him. But you would think there would be deffinate signs of that.

They need to look into his roomate/best friend that had issues with him. Test for any DNA that may be found on the camping equipment that may belong to the best friend. It looked staged so he could have done it. He could have driven a body away in his boot and dumped it anywhere. I hope he was thoroughly investigated before they came to a conclusion that he had nothing to do with it.

Both very sad and disturbing. Hope that he's found one day

I agree something doesnt look right

This area that Chris disappeared is got a lot of weird folks living in the area. Some people kind of a remind you of the movie "Road Warrior".

I'm so glad that you didn't discuss shaving your junk. Thank you. 😊

Agreed, the photo raises some questions. What a strange story

I’m not a hiker nor mountain climber so I do not understand it when people believe it is expected that some rescue organization will come search for those who set out to enjoy the wilderness.

I think you did manscape a solid with your short, but very cute and funny commercial !

So close to border always gives me pause...

My first thought was hitchhiking gone wrong, considering it was right by the crossing and the temple was five miles off trail. It would be easy for someone to go back later and set up the items where they picked him up after the fact. But honestly, suicide is probably the most likely. He went out there to think, and being alone for days on end with nothing but thoughts when you’re depressed can lead to bad places. Sounds like the friend always planned on picking him up at the terminus and the meet up was out of the blue. Could’ve made up his mind and arranged it so someone would find his stuff and know where to look. He probably walked way off trail somewhere. No matter what happened, it’s heartbreaking for everyone involved. I hadn’t heard this story, so thank you for bringing more awareness to disappearances on trail. More awareness means more possibilities for answers for families waiting for loved ones.

Does Manscaped offer a DCF version? Asking for a friend.

My first thought about the pic is that he was pulling stuff out of his pack. Maybe put the pad down so his gear wouldn't be in the dirt? The angle of his pack and how the other stuff is laying...I agree it doesn't seem organized for a camp. And what is with the metal bar(hiking pole?) and glove? So very strange.

This stinks to high heaven. The friend needs to be investigated. What was the nature of the rift between them? He was scheduled to meet with him and he claims the guy didn't show up. How convenient. He waits a whole week to report him missing? I don't care how close they were at one point, they clearly weren't close in this moment in time. That was no suicide. Did Mike at Mike's Place remember him coming by? I'd love to know that, too. But they need to look a lot closer into the friend and that whole situation. I can't believe it if they just let him slip through their cracks. Maybe he's innocent, maybe he's anything but. A week is a good long while to figure out what to do with a body and how to stage a scene with his gear.

I think there was an issue he had with his gear. He got pissed and decided to leave the gear and asked his friend to pick him up at the Lieu Quan Meditation center. On his way he fell and died. His body was concealed bad weather and collected with water runoff. or he fell into an abandon old well similar to the case of Gregory Monroe.

Wow, disturbing and heartbreaking case. All speculation, of course, but the things that lead me to raise an eyebrow to the friend are: - The reason he wanted to get away was in order to think about some tension with his friend on his own. It sounds like we don't necessarily know what that tension was, but it was strong enough to have him want to do a long trip away. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZ6qo6WVqsuneoU.html - Feb 16th Chris had called the friend (out of the blue), which was his last known contact. This is a little confusing since it sounds like the friend was caught at a bad time but ended up agreeing to meet Chris. It's unclear from the video who suggested the meeting location. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZ6qo6WVqsuneoU.html - Feb 17th According to his friend Chris doesn't show up at the meditation center and he waited for an hour. He had to get going due to an obligation. Now, this location is already about an hour drive (up to 1.5 hours) to San Diego. I don't know where they lived but seeing as how this call out of the blue was amid tension in their friendship and living situation, and semingly an olive branch, it seems weird he would drive all that way, get stood up, then just shrug it off and not try to contact Chris at all AND THEN wait a week to report him missing. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZ6qo6WVqsuneoU.html - Feb 24th A week passes before he reports Chris missing. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZ6qo6WVqsuneoU.html - They find his gear laid out in what sounds like a way someone who doesn't know backpacking would lay out gear. It's a couple hundred feet from a road where, say, a car could drive through. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZ6qo6WVqsuneoU.html I could be completely off, but these are just the red flags that popped into my head while listening. I'm hoping some new information comes to light and that Chris is found.

Friend is either brain dead or guilty of forever sleeping him He went on hike because they were having issues. He was supposed to be picked up. Friend says he waited for an hour - plenty of time to do bad stuff, including setup the cowboy camp that was found. Friend waited a week to report him missing.

I’m definitely not sure whether it was homicide or suicide, but I do think someone went through his gear and left it there. It looks like it was rummaged through. Whether they were also the reason he vanished is unknowable, unless someone comes forward. It’s possible that his intention in calling his friend was for his body to be found, but it doesn’t seem like he’d have done it in a place where it would never be found. That seems likely to be the result of intentional concealment. If someone hangs themselves, jumps off a cliff or shoots themselves, they are going to be found very quickly. It’s the carefully hidden body that goes undiscovered…unless he maybe fell into a crevasse or something. It’s all very mysterious.

Sad, I hope the family get answers.

Also why would the reflective side of the sleeping pad be towards the ground?