On August 20, 2004, an unofficial Boy Scout camping trip to Cubrant Lake in the Uinta Wasatch National Forest took a tragic turn. Troop 694 from south of Provo, Utah had embarked on one final adventure before the school year began. The lake system sits at approximately 10,000 feet elevation, about two miles northwest of Lofty Lake trailhead, creating a picturesque but challenging environment for outdoor recreation.

The incident centered around 12-year-old Garrett Bardsley and his father Kevin. While fishing about 150 yards from their campsite, Garrett got his shoes wet and decided to return to camp alone to change. Kevin watched his son walk partway back before Garrett turned out of sight. After waiting 15-20 minutes without Garrett's return, Kevin became concerned and returned to camp, only to discover his son never arrived. What began as a simple change of shoes quickly escalated into a desperate search effort involving the 18 Boy Scouts and several adults present on the trip.

Key Takeaways

A 12-year-old Boy Scout disappeared after leaving his father to walk back to camp alone at Cubrant Lake in August 2004.
The absence of the buddy system proved critical as Garrett Bardsley vanished despite being in relatively close proximity to the campsite.
Initial search efforts involved patrol leaders and adults, with growing concern about survival chances in the challenging mountain environment.

History of the Cubrant Lake Disappearance

Troop 694's Unofficial Expedition

On August 20, 2004, Boy Scout Troop 694 from south of Provo, Utah embarked on an informal camping trip that wasn't officially sanctioned by the Boy Scouts of America. The expedition was organized as a final outdoor adventure before the school year began, designed to foster bonding between the scouts and their fathers. This gathering included 18 Boy Scouts accompanied by 6-7 adult supervisors, though notably the troop's regular scoutmaster, Wally Trotter, was absent due to work commitments. The trip represented a common practice among scout troops—informal outings that maintain the spirit of scouting without the full organizational oversight of the BSA.

Geography and Environment of Cubrant Lake

Cubrant Lake sits approximately 10,000 feet above sea level in the Uinta-Wasatch National Forest, making it roughly 20 degrees colder than Salt Lake City's 4,000-foot elevation. Reaching the Cubrant Basin requires a moderate hike of about one to one and a half hours for experienced hikers, covering approximately two miles northwest from Lofty Lake trailhead. The basin contains multiple lakes, with Cubrant Lake being the largest—its name derived from a Ute word meaning "long." The area features challenging terrain, including numerous boulder fields that can be hazardous to navigate. Temperature conditions in the region can be extreme, with nighttime temperatures potentially dropping to 18°F (approximately -8°C), even during August.

Location Feature Description Elevation ~10,000 feet Distance from trailhead ~2 miles Hiking time 1-1.5 hours Temperature differential ~20°F colder than Salt Lake City Surrounding terrain Boulder fields, multiple lakes Nearest road None in proximity (contrary to some reports)

Lakes Naming Inconsistencies

The water bodies in the Cubrant Basin present significant identification challenges due to inconsistent naming conventions across different maps and documentation. Some cartographic sources label the main body as "Cubrant Lake" with the six surrounding smaller lakes numbered one through six. Alternative maps designate the main lake as "Cubrant Number One" with the remaining bodies of water labeled as numbers two through seven. This naming confusion has created difficulties for researchers attempting to precisely identify which specific lake was involved in the incident. Based on available information from the Daily Herald, the incident likely occurred at one of the smaller lakes in the basin rather than the main Cubrant Lake itself, possibly at what some sources identify as "Cubrant Number Four"—the westernmost of the smaller lakes directly south of the main lake.

![Image: Map of Cubrant Lakes with naming discrepancies]

The inconsistent documentation has contributed to reporting inaccuracies, including erroneous claims about proximity to roads and distances between key locations in some published accounts of the incident.

The Day Garrett Bardsley Vanished

Fishing Expedition and Early Challenges

On August 20, 2004, Kevin Bardsley and his 12-year-old son Garrett set out for a morning fishing trip approximately 150 yards from their campsite at one of the smaller lakes in the Cubrant Basin. The unofficial Boy Scout camping excursion, organized by Troop 694 from near Provo, Utah, was meant to be a final outdoor adventure before school resumed. The Basin, located in the Uinta-Wasatch National Forest at approximately 10,000 feet elevation, features Cubrant Lake as its largest body of water, surrounded by several smaller lakes.

While fishing that morning, Garrett's shoes and socks became wet. At first, he wanted to continue fishing despite the discomfort, but eventually decided he needed to change into dry footwear.

Garrett's Solo Journey Back to Camp

Garrett, a 5-foot tall boy weighing 105-115 pounds with light brown hair, was wearing distinctive clothing: a black Quicksilver hoodie, red and black reversible sweatpants, a white t-shirt, and Nike ankle socks. He carried his closed fishing pole as he departed to walk back to camp alone.

Kevin made the decision to allow his 12-year-old son to return to camp independently, as the distance was relatively short and they hadn't encountered any concerning wildlife in the area. This decision might have been different had this been an official Boy Scouts of America event, where the buddy system is strictly enforced.

Kevin's Brief Moment of Inattention

As Garrett began walking, he initially missed the correct turn to camp. Kevin called out to redirect him, watched his son turn in the proper direction, and then lost sight of him. Kevin assumed Garrett would continue to camp without issue and remained fishing for approximately 15-20 minutes.

When Garrett didn't return within that timeframe, Kevin began to wonder about the delay. He packed up his fishing gear and returned to camp, only to discover that Garrett had never arrived. This was immediately concerning—the path was straightforward, and the camp was visible from parts of the trail.

Kevin quickly mobilized other adults and older Scouts to begin searching for Garrett. The group initially maintained optimism, believing Garrett had simply taken a wrong turn and would be found nearby. Among the 18 Scouts and 6-7 adults at the campsite, search parties formed rapidly, with patrol leaders eventually recruiting younger Scouts for the effort.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense as time passed. Gary Hansen, one of the patrol leaders, emphasized the urgency to younger Scouts by starkly stating that if they didn't find Garrett before nightfall, he could die in the cold mountain temperatures, which could drop to 18 degrees Fahrenheit even in August.

Search and Rescue Operations

The events surrounding Garrett Bardsley's disappearance at Cubrant Lake in August 2004 demonstrate the critical importance of proper wilderness safety protocols. When the 12-year-old Scout went missing during an unofficial camping trip, search efforts quickly escalated from casual to urgent as time passed.

Initial Adult and Leadership Response

When Kevin Bardsley realized his son hadn't returned to camp, he immediately began searching with other adults and older Scout leaders. The initial search was conducted with optimism, as the group believed Garrett couldn't have gone far—likely no more than a quarter to half mile from camp. They assumed he had simply taken a wrong turn and would respond to their calls. The search party spread out, calling Garrett's name and carefully checking the surrounding area, expecting to locate him quickly given the relatively short distance between the fishing spot and their campsite.

Involvement of Younger Scouts

As the search continued without success, patrol leaders began enlisting younger Scouts to help. One patrol leader, Gary Hansen, used particularly urgent language to motivate the younger boys, telling them: "You need to help us look because if not, Garrett will be dead by morning." While perhaps too intense for 12-year-olds, this approach reflected the genuine concern developing as time passed. Meanwhile in Provo, Scoutmaster Wally Trotter experienced a premonition that something was wrong at the campsite. When he received the call about Garrett's disappearance, he immediately left work, telling his boss, "I gotta go," and drove directly to Cubrant Lake to assist with the search efforts.

Effects of Terrain and Weather

The search for Garrett was complicated by several environmental factors:

Elevation and Temperature:

Cubrant Lake sits at approximately 10,000 feet elevation
Temperatures run about 20 degrees colder than in Salt Lake City
Nighttime temperatures could drop to 18°F even in August

Challenging Terrain:

Multiple small lakes in the Cubrant Basin made orientation difficult
Boulder fields surrounding the lake created hazardous conditions
Limited trails and wilderness setting made navigation challenging

The searchers were particularly concerned about finding Garrett before nightfall due to these environmental hazards. A fall in the boulder fields could result in injury, and the extreme overnight temperature drop posed a serious risk of hypothermia, especially since Garrett's shoes and socks were already wet from fishing.

Impact on the Local Community and Scouting

The disappearance of Garrett Bardsley on August 20, 2004, profoundly affected both the local community and scouting practices. When the 12-year-old scout went missing during an unofficial camping trip near Cubrant Lake in the Uinta-Wasatch National Forest, it quickly transformed from a casual outing into a serious emergency.

The incident highlighted crucial safety protocols, particularly the importance of the buddy system. This system, fundamental in both scouting and military operations, ensures individuals always travel in pairs, preventing solo disappearances. Had this been an officially sanctioned Boy Scout of America (BSA) event, the buddy system would likely have been more strictly enforced.

Troop 694's response demonstrated the close-knit nature of scouting communities. The search effort quickly mobilized:

18 Boy Scouts and 6-7 adults participated
Patrol leaders and adults initiated the search
Younger scouts were later incorporated into search efforts

The seriousness of the situation became apparent as patrol leaders communicated the urgency to younger scouts. One patrol leader, Gary Hansen, directly told younger boys they needed to help search, warning that without swift action, Garrett might not survive the night—a harsh but realistic assessment given the terrain and potential overnight temperatures as low as 18°F at 10,000 feet elevation.

Scoutmaster Wally Trotter's response demonstrated the dedication of scout leaders. Despite not being on the trip initially due to work commitments, when he received news of Garrett's disappearance, he immediately left his workplace and drove to Cubrant Lake, exemplifying the priority scouting places on youth safety.

The incident took place in challenging terrain. The Cubrant Basin contains multiple lakes, with the largest being Cubrant Lake itself, surrounded by six smaller lakes. This geography, combined with the boulder fields present in the area, created dangerous search conditions and complicated rescue efforts.

Media Coverage and Inaccurate Information

Correcting Popular Misunderstandings

Several publications have presented misleading details about the Garrett Bardsley case from August 20, 2004. Some websites, including Strange Outdoors, incorrectly stated the distance between the campsite and the lake as merely 150-250 feet. This measurement is demonstrably inaccurate, as the actual distance was approximately 150-200 yards. Had the camp been as close as suggested, Garrett would likely have remained within visual range of his father.

Another common error in reporting involves claims about accessibility. Contrary to what some Missing 411-focused websites assert, there was no road within a quarter mile of the campsite. These locations in the Uinta Wasatch National Forest are only accessible by hiking trails.

The exact lake identification also presents inconsistencies in reporting. While some maps label the main body as Cubrant Lake with surrounding smaller lakes numbered 1-6, others designate them as Cubrant #1 through #7. Based on Daily Herald articles and other credible sources, the Bardsleys were fishing at one of the smaller lakes in the Cubrant Basin, not the main Cubrant Lake itself.

Common Misconception Factual Correction Campsite was 150-250 feet from lake Actual distance: 150-200 yards Road located ¼ mile away No road existed near the campsite Location was at main Cubrant Lake Most likely at one of the smaller lakes in the basin

Challenges in Reporting the Truth

The difficulties in accurate reporting begin with the immediate circumstances of wilderness incidents. During emergencies like Garrett's disappearance, precise location details often seem inconsequential to reporters covering the story. The remote nature of the Cubrant Basin, situated approximately two miles from the Lofty Lake trailhead at 10,000 feet elevation, compounds these challenges.

Weather conditions and geographical features frequently receive inconsistent attention in media reports. While temperatures in the Cubrant Basin would typically be about 20 degrees colder than Salt Lake City due to the elevation difference, this critical survival detail wasn't consistently highlighted in coverage.

The unofficial nature of the trip created additional confusion in reporting. Since this was not a Boy Scout Association sanctioned event, some reports failed to distinguish between official BSA protocols and the more relaxed approach taken during this outing. This distinction matters significantly when examining why Garrett was permitted to walk back to camp alone rather than utilizing the buddy system practiced in official scouting activities.

Media organizations often struggled with verifying sources when reporting on the incident. Information from firsthand witnesses became mixed with secondhand accounts, creating a patchwork of sometimes contradictory details that continues to complicate understanding of what actually occurred when Garrett Bardsley disappeared.

Garrett Bardsley: The Haunting Missing 411 Case That Vanished Into Thin Air