I think we all suffer from confirmation bias. Terribly difficult to eradicate.
About the tracks/footprints. I don't think the experiment with walking on sand compares to walking on snow although I believe he's trying to give the example of the curve on the inner foot which is not observed in the 3 photos of the foot prints.
I think the use of the word "bare foot" means without a shoe or boot . The witnesses at the scene report bare foot or toes in some of the footprints or through thin socks. 2.5 of the hikers had footwear, some had three pairs of socks on and some only one . Everything is consistent with first reports in the statements on day two of the investigation.
Only 4 hikers were found on day 2, so no one knew what everyone was wearing but the reports seem to match with what was observed by those at the scene and what was eventually recovered . The only other way they could have predicted that I guess ,is by counting the remaining footwear in the tent ?.
For those wearing three socks , I would suspect the inner arch wouldn't show, or their toes for that matter, plus I suspect that some snow would start to stick to the bottom of the socks giving a different print. The pictures we have don't really show much.
The whole footprint thing, just socks....
