The Boots on the Anvil: She Vanished Where No Trail Goes

The Boots on the Anvil: She Vanished Where No Trail Goes When searchers found a dry pair of size eight hiking boots on a granite shelf called the Anvil, their laces tucked inside and toes pointed toward an 800-foot canyon drop, the trail to that shelf led to nowhere - no mud, no debris, no path. A science teacher who ran six miles before sunrise and packed a bear canister with two days of food vanished after a textbook four-mile track that simply ended at a saddle; how do you disappear where no trail goes? In this episode, we tell what was found on and off the trail, who knew Rhonda Bowers, and how standard search procedures met unexplained evidence; can the boots, the buckled pack and the dogs’ scent lead to an answer? Person: Rhonda Bowers Date: March 11-15, 2019 Location: Sable Creek backcountry, Breck Notch and the Anvil, Morrow County, Oregon Status: Missing Occupation: High school earth science and chemistry teacher - Boots: size eight, dry, laces tucked inside, toes pointed south toward an 800-foot canyon. - Pack: found March 15 sitting upright against a rock, rain cover on, bear canister inside with two days of untouched food. - Sleeping bag: rated below freezing, dry and undeployed inside the pack. - Scent trail: dogs tracked a clear four-mile route that ended abruptly at the 6,400-foot saddle of Breck Notch. - Pack detail: hipbelt buckled and lid pocket empty; volunteer log noted placement "inconsistent with voluntary set-down" or "staged placement." To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].