What are the main theories about how Ruess died?

• A. Fell to his death while scrambling on canyon wall
• B. Murdered by team of cattle wrestlers
• C. Might still be alive
• D. Drowned - discovered the name in mud next to river

Answer: (A)

This question tests how to weigh different theories about Everett Ruess’s disappearance and decide which explanation the evidence most strongly supports. The best-supported view is that he fell to his death while scrambling on canyon walls. Ruess spent much of his life exploring remote canyon country in the American Southwest, where cliff ledges and steep rock faces are common and a misstep can be fatal. This explanation fits the dangerous environment he loved and the abrupt end of his writings, without requiring other less-supported scenarios. There isn’t credible evidence of foul play by others or of drowning near a river, and rumors that he might still be alive lack solid documentation and a traceable trail. So, the canyon-wall fall remains the most plausible conclusion given what is known about his travels and the terrain he explored.