The Last Hike of David Gimelfarb: A Photo Essay

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Portrait of David’s parents, Roma and Luda Gimelfarb, in Rosewood Park near their Highland Park home.
Daniel Shea
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The capital of Costa Rica, San Jose.
Daniel Shea
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The capital of Costa Rica, San Jose.
Daniel Shea
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San Jose from a distance, coming out of the city.
Daniel Shea
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The bar at Hacienda Guachipelín, where David stayed.
Daniel Shea
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A path from the room to the restaurant at Hacienda Guachipelín.
Daniel Shea
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The lobby at Hacienda Guachipelín.
Daniel Shea
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A landscape of the rooms at Hacienda Guachipelín.
Daniel Shea
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A room at Hacienda Guachipelín.
Daniel Shea
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On the road from Hacienda Guachipelín to Rincón de La Vieja National Park in the Province of Guanacaste.
Daniel Shea
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The Rincón de La Vieja National Park ranger station, where every hiker checks into before hiking the park trails.
Daniel Shea
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David’s signature in the park visitor log from 2009.
Daniel Shea
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The foot bridge leading Las Pailas, the short hike David signed in to take.
Daniel Shea
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Along Las Pailas, hikers can see bubbling hot mud pots that signal the park’s ongoing volcanic activity.
Daniel Shea
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Las Pailas trails.
Daniel Shea
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More geothermal mud pots along Las Pailas.
Daniel Shea
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The park’s signature attraction is an active volcano, seen in the distance.
Daniel Shea
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Another hiking trail in the sweeping Rincón de La Vieja National Park.
Daniel Shea
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Rincón de La Vieja National Park features beautiful rivers and waterfalls.
Daniel Shea
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More trails in the enormous park.
Daniel Shea
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Seen on the road from the park to a nearby beach that tourists often visit.
Daniel Shea
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Playa del Coco, a beach that David is believed to have visited while in Costa Rica.
Daniel Shea
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Playa del Coco, a beach that David is believed to have visited while in Costa Rica.
Daniel Shea
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Playa del Coco, a beach that David is believed to have visited while in Costa Rica.
Daniel Shea
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The town near Playa del Coco.
Daniel Shea
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View from another nearby beach, Playa Hermosa, which is much less commercial and more scenic.
Daniel Shea
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Playa Hermosa at night.
Daniel Shea
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On the road from the park back to San Jose.
Daniel Shea
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The Gimelfarbs near their home in Highland Park. They still believe that their son is alive.
Daniel Shea

Chicago magazine sent the talented documentary photographer Daniel Shea to Costa Rica to retrace the missing Chicago hiker David Gimelfarb’s last known steps. The following 29 images capture a lush region known for its natural beauty and abundant greenery. But there hidden dangers lend an aura of mystery to this strange tale.

July 29, 2013, 1:00 pm

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