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Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Nonfiction (2023)From a former law enforcement park ranger and investigator, this female-driven true crime adventure follows the author’s quest to find missing hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail by pairing up with an eclectic group of unlikely allies.
As a park ranger with the National Park Service's law enforcement team, Andrea Lankford led search and rescue missions in some of the most beautiful (and dangerous) landscapes across America, from Yosemite to the Grand Canyon. But though she had the support of the agency, Andrea grew frustrated with the service's bureaucratic idiosyncrasies, and left the force after twelve years. Two decades later, however, she stumbles across a mystery that pulls her right back where she left - three young men have vanished from the Pacific Crest Trail, the 2,650-mile trek made famous by Cheryl Strayed's Wild , and no one has been able to find them. It’s bugging the hell out of her.
Andrea’s concern soon leads her to a wild environment unlike any she’s ever ventured into - missing person Facebook groups. Andrea launches an investigation, joining forces with an eclectic team of amateurs who are determined to solve the cases: a mother of the missing, a retired pharmacy manager, and a mapmaker who monitors terrorist activity for the government. Together, they track the activities of kidnappers and murderers, investigate a cult, rescue a psychic in peril, cross paths with an unconventional scientist, and reunite an international fugitive with his family. Searching for the missing is a brutal psychological and physical test with the highest stakes, but eventually their hardships begin to bear strange fruits—ones that lead them to places and people they never saw coming.
As a park ranger with the National Park Service's law enforcement team, Andrea Lankford led search and rescue missions in some of the most beautiful (and dangerous) landscapes across America, from Yosemite to the Grand Canyon. But though she had the support of the agency, Andrea grew frustrated with the service's bureaucratic idiosyncrasies, and left the force after twelve years. Two decades later, however, she stumbles across a mystery that pulls her right back where she left - three young men have vanished from the Pacific Crest Trail, the 2,650-mile trek made famous by Cheryl Strayed's Wild , and no one has been able to find them. It’s bugging the hell out of her.
Andrea’s concern soon leads her to a wild environment unlike any she’s ever ventured into - missing person Facebook groups. Andrea launches an investigation, joining forces with an eclectic team of amateurs who are determined to solve the cases: a mother of the missing, a retired pharmacy manager, and a mapmaker who monitors terrorist activity for the government. Together, they track the activities of kidnappers and murderers, investigate a cult, rescue a psychic in peril, cross paths with an unconventional scientist, and reunite an international fugitive with his family. Searching for the missing is a brutal psychological and physical test with the highest stakes, but eventually their hardships begin to bear strange fruits—ones that lead them to places and people they never saw coming.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2023
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August 22, 2023
Touching and insightful non-fiction book about three men (Chris Sylvia, Kris Fowler, and David O'Sullivan) who went missing on the Pacific Crest Trail and the immense efforts that went into (and still continue) searching for them.
Andrea Lankford worked in law enforcement for the National Park service and was involved with many search and rescue operations. She left that job to become a nurse, but when she learned about these missing people, she decided to discover what she could about where they might be and help to bring closure to the families. What occurred after was a journey of knowledge and investigation, which involved a diverse group of people and immense effort.
I was engrossed in this book from the beginning. I live very near where the PCT crosses through Washington and have known both through hikers (those who travel the entire PCT from Mexico to Canada) and section hikers, and have provided transportation to those who have skipped a portion of the trail for one reason or another. This connection drew me to the book, but Lankford's writing and the meticulous examination of the cases of the missing hikers, as well as insight into hiker culture and search and rescue operations in general kept me enthralled.
Unfortunately, it is still unknown what happened to the three men, but this book brings enlightening awareness and hopefully will lead to their discovery at some point. I hesitate to call this a "true crime" book because there is no evidence at all that crimes have been committed, but it reads similarly to a true crime story because there is an overall mystery of what happened to these men.
I highly recommend this book to those interested in narrative non-fiction. The Pacific Crest Trail has become more popular (thus more populated) and also more connected via technology in recent years, but it is still a vast wilderness fraught with peril on one hand and incredible beauty and serenity on the other.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Andrea Lankford worked in law enforcement for the National Park service and was involved with many search and rescue operations. She left that job to become a nurse, but when she learned about these missing people, she decided to discover what she could about where they might be and help to bring closure to the families. What occurred after was a journey of knowledge and investigation, which involved a diverse group of people and immense effort.
I was engrossed in this book from the beginning. I live very near where the PCT crosses through Washington and have known both through hikers (those who travel the entire PCT from Mexico to Canada) and section hikers, and have provided transportation to those who have skipped a portion of the trail for one reason or another. This connection drew me to the book, but Lankford's writing and the meticulous examination of the cases of the missing hikers, as well as insight into hiker culture and search and rescue operations in general kept me enthralled.
Unfortunately, it is still unknown what happened to the three men, but this book brings enlightening awareness and hopefully will lead to their discovery at some point. I hesitate to call this a "true crime" book because there is no evidence at all that crimes have been committed, but it reads similarly to a true crime story because there is an overall mystery of what happened to these men.
I highly recommend this book to those interested in narrative non-fiction. The Pacific Crest Trail has become more popular (thus more populated) and also more connected via technology in recent years, but it is still a vast wilderness fraught with peril on one hand and incredible beauty and serenity on the other.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 2, 2023
Many people try to hike all 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, or PCT, each and every year. This route spans from Mexico to Canada on the west coast and includes some of the most beautiful places on Earth. See the dry valleys of California, the serene Crater Lake, and breathe in the cool, clean air of Mount Rainier. (my personal favorite) But what happens to those poor souls who wander off the trail and are lost? Andrea Lankford, a retired parks search and rescue officer, and her pack of amateur sleuths try to put clues together to try and find three lost hikers who attempted the 5-month journey and give the family the peace they have been searching for years.
Whether you’re following along with the vivid depictions of trail stops, sights, and or search parameters set forth, the book never fails to be thrilling. The search team dips their toes into many avenues to try and find these missing hikers. This includes contacting mediums, DNA specialists, psychics, crackpot inventors, exploitative adventure seekers, cult followers, and so much more. It gets pretty wild, and the devotion of the family’s search attempts is heartwarming, to say the least.
The core of the book follows the search of the main three hikers, but deviates to some other well-known people who have lost their way along the trail and reports on a variety of peskies in the more secluded areas. The story-telling is concise and it does a great job explaining some of the most common hiking terms such as zero-days, HYOH, trail angels, and more. For those seeking to take on a long thru-hike, it is important to read some of these stories and add their knowledge to your trail rolodex. You never know when it might come in handy.
I recommended this to all hikers and arm-chair adventurers!
📝 | Extra | 📝’s
❖ A big thank you to Helga, my trailblazing reading buddy. Thanks for bouncing off theories and for giving me my new hiking nickname! 😁
❖ If you enjoy Jon Krakauer’s books nature books, I think you will enjoy this one.
❖ It was heartwarming reading about these brave women and what they gave up to help with the search.
❖ Non-fiction November is over, but it was an exciting time!
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ John Denver – Country Roads
❖ The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
❖ Iron Maiden – Running Free
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 4.5 out of 5 ❖
Whether you’re following along with the vivid depictions of trail stops, sights, and or search parameters set forth, the book never fails to be thrilling. The search team dips their toes into many avenues to try and find these missing hikers. This includes contacting mediums, DNA specialists, psychics, crackpot inventors, exploitative adventure seekers, cult followers, and so much more. It gets pretty wild, and the devotion of the family’s search attempts is heartwarming, to say the least.
The core of the book follows the search of the main three hikers, but deviates to some other well-known people who have lost their way along the trail and reports on a variety of peskies in the more secluded areas. The story-telling is concise and it does a great job explaining some of the most common hiking terms such as zero-days, HYOH, trail angels, and more. For those seeking to take on a long thru-hike, it is important to read some of these stories and add their knowledge to your trail rolodex. You never know when it might come in handy.
I recommended this to all hikers and arm-chair adventurers!
📝 | Extra | 📝’s
❖ A big thank you to Helga, my trailblazing reading buddy. Thanks for bouncing off theories and for giving me my new hiking nickname! 😁
❖ If you enjoy Jon Krakauer’s books nature books, I think you will enjoy this one.
❖ It was heartwarming reading about these brave women and what they gave up to help with the search.
❖ Non-fiction November is over, but it was an exciting time!
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ John Denver – Country Roads
❖ The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
❖ Iron Maiden – Running Free
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 4.5 out of 5 ❖
December 3, 2023
On the trail of the lost, you may not find what you’re searching for, but you will find more than you seek.
Imagine a loved one goes hiking. Imagine after a while you don’t hear from him anymore; he has vanished without a trace. Has he lost his way? Did he embark on this journey with the sole purpose to vanish? Did he meet with an accident? Is he dead? Is he alive? Is he trapped somewhere waiting for you to find him?
This book is about three hikers Chris Sylvia, David O'Sullivan and Kris Fowler who vanished while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail and the people who worked with determination, relentlessly and selflessly to find them.
Special thanks to Chris Lee for reading this book with me and giving me tips about hiking and how to deal with the peskies.
Imagine a loved one goes hiking. Imagine after a while you don’t hear from him anymore; he has vanished without a trace. Has he lost his way? Did he embark on this journey with the sole purpose to vanish? Did he meet with an accident? Is he dead? Is he alive? Is he trapped somewhere waiting for you to find him?
This book is about three hikers Chris Sylvia, David O'Sullivan and Kris Fowler who vanished while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail and the people who worked with determination, relentlessly and selflessly to find them.
Special thanks to Chris Lee for reading this book with me and giving me tips about hiking and how to deal with the peskies.
October 16, 2023
NetGalley read. For honest review.
I am a day hiker, and a long distance walker myself (Spanish and Portugal Camino) but not a backpacker or thru hiker. Yet I found this a fascinating book and would highly recommend it if you have an interest in wilderness/search and rescue or are a long distance hiker or have an interest in the subject. There is a treasure trove of information here, but it will require some searching and focus on your part. But like a long hike in the nature, it is certainly worth the effort.
There was much I loved about this book and a few instances where it drove me crazy. It is well written story by a woman who was a former park ranger and wilderness rescuer/first responder now turned R.N. She has the qualifications and experience needed to really lend a hand and tell a well-developed exploration of how hikers, even good ones and often less than qualified ones, overstep in nature and are lost. This is a story of how three male hikers were lost on the Pacific Coast Trail (the thru hike--2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada brought to life in the book Wild by Cheryl Strayed--later made into the film by the same name) for over 5 years and have not been found.
It is easier to say what this story is not about than exactly what it is. It is not a true crime story as it is pitched on the cover and reviews. Not unless we count getting lost as the crime, since death on a hike could possibly be foul play but is more likely to be accidental mishap and injury caused by a wrong choice or a wrong step. I would certainly consider it a Cold Case type mystery. One where others have failed and there is a hope that you might just uncover the key that solves it and brings closures to these families.
It does cover a lot of facets about hiking--what to bring to stay safe, a little on the needed preparation, how accidents can happen even for experienced hikers and how difficult finding hikers in the wilderness is.
There is lots about the Pacific Coast Trail--how difficult it is, how many more hikers attempt it since its popularity took off after Stayed's book, the different terrains encountered, fewer re-supply stops, why hikers get discouraged and how few make it the full length, even when it is the plan.
Grief and closure are discussed throughout as several people who want to help find these men realize how difficult it can be to give up even when their own money, hope and ideas are exhausted, because they have become close with the families.
How scattered and uncoordinated search efforts are, no clear responsibility or chain of command of law enforcement efforts, the final responsibility often falling on local police forces who do not have the time, resources or personnel to tackle this kind of search.
The meat of the story is about three male hikers of varied experience who have been lost on the trail and never been found. One in 2016, one in 2017 and one in 2018. Two lost in the Mohave desert in California in the early going hiking days and one in the wilds of Washington almost at the finish. Each hiker’s backstory is recounted at length, what is known on why he decided to hike this trail and how far he got, when his disappearance was noted and the immediate rescue efforts. There is much detail on new items of clothing found and investigation of trails that might have been taken in error.
A variety of people, mostly amateurs aside from Lankford get involved with these cases and they enlist a variety of efforts to make headway where little has been made before. They do have the information on what has been done previously. But there is surprisingly little aside from the areas search and the last know whereabouts of these hikers. A group evolves to lend time and what expertise they have to help. This includes psychics, professional internet map searchers, previous law enforcement people, improbable inventors, and drone experts. All avenues are explored, including improbable trails taken, possible mountain lion and rattle snake encounters, criminal encounters, suicide and purposefully going off and not wanting to be found.
It was fascinating but at times difficult to follow especially on audio. Two of the lost have the name Chris, and though they are lost on different parts of the trail, descriptions of wilderness are often similar so there were times I was not exactly sure where I was and exactly which of the hikers was being talked about. Timelines were often non-liner, as different searchers came into the story and different aspects of the search for each hiker was discussed there, dates and time jump back and forward in the story telling. Not sure how this could have been avoided but it did not make it any easier to follow.
It is a non-fiction story telling but I hesitate to call it a narrative, it is more informational and mostly well done. There is much information here on a fascinating subject. The audio was read by Kristi Burns and she did a very good narration. I used both the audio and the print advanced reader copy in my reading. I did not find one better than the other. It did demand focus from me so I was glad to have both on hand, there are great maps of the trail in the book and they are helpful to clarify events and time lines.
Thanks to NetGalley for the print Advanced Reader Copy
p.s I listened and read while day hiking in Estonia and Finland. What hidden gems these beautiful places are in the Fall!
I am a day hiker, and a long distance walker myself (Spanish and Portugal Camino) but not a backpacker or thru hiker. Yet I found this a fascinating book and would highly recommend it if you have an interest in wilderness/search and rescue or are a long distance hiker or have an interest in the subject. There is a treasure trove of information here, but it will require some searching and focus on your part. But like a long hike in the nature, it is certainly worth the effort.
There was much I loved about this book and a few instances where it drove me crazy. It is well written story by a woman who was a former park ranger and wilderness rescuer/first responder now turned R.N. She has the qualifications and experience needed to really lend a hand and tell a well-developed exploration of how hikers, even good ones and often less than qualified ones, overstep in nature and are lost. This is a story of how three male hikers were lost on the Pacific Coast Trail (the thru hike--2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada brought to life in the book Wild by Cheryl Strayed--later made into the film by the same name) for over 5 years and have not been found.
It is easier to say what this story is not about than exactly what it is. It is not a true crime story as it is pitched on the cover and reviews. Not unless we count getting lost as the crime, since death on a hike could possibly be foul play but is more likely to be accidental mishap and injury caused by a wrong choice or a wrong step. I would certainly consider it a Cold Case type mystery. One where others have failed and there is a hope that you might just uncover the key that solves it and brings closures to these families.
It does cover a lot of facets about hiking--what to bring to stay safe, a little on the needed preparation, how accidents can happen even for experienced hikers and how difficult finding hikers in the wilderness is.
There is lots about the Pacific Coast Trail--how difficult it is, how many more hikers attempt it since its popularity took off after Stayed's book, the different terrains encountered, fewer re-supply stops, why hikers get discouraged and how few make it the full length, even when it is the plan.
Grief and closure are discussed throughout as several people who want to help find these men realize how difficult it can be to give up even when their own money, hope and ideas are exhausted, because they have become close with the families.
How scattered and uncoordinated search efforts are, no clear responsibility or chain of command of law enforcement efforts, the final responsibility often falling on local police forces who do not have the time, resources or personnel to tackle this kind of search.
The meat of the story is about three male hikers of varied experience who have been lost on the trail and never been found. One in 2016, one in 2017 and one in 2018. Two lost in the Mohave desert in California in the early going hiking days and one in the wilds of Washington almost at the finish. Each hiker’s backstory is recounted at length, what is known on why he decided to hike this trail and how far he got, when his disappearance was noted and the immediate rescue efforts. There is much detail on new items of clothing found and investigation of trails that might have been taken in error.
A variety of people, mostly amateurs aside from Lankford get involved with these cases and they enlist a variety of efforts to make headway where little has been made before. They do have the information on what has been done previously. But there is surprisingly little aside from the areas search and the last know whereabouts of these hikers. A group evolves to lend time and what expertise they have to help. This includes psychics, professional internet map searchers, previous law enforcement people, improbable inventors, and drone experts. All avenues are explored, including improbable trails taken, possible mountain lion and rattle snake encounters, criminal encounters, suicide and purposefully going off and not wanting to be found.
It was fascinating but at times difficult to follow especially on audio. Two of the lost have the name Chris, and though they are lost on different parts of the trail, descriptions of wilderness are often similar so there were times I was not exactly sure where I was and exactly which of the hikers was being talked about. Timelines were often non-liner, as different searchers came into the story and different aspects of the search for each hiker was discussed there, dates and time jump back and forward in the story telling. Not sure how this could have been avoided but it did not make it any easier to follow.
It is a non-fiction story telling but I hesitate to call it a narrative, it is more informational and mostly well done. There is much information here on a fascinating subject. The audio was read by Kristi Burns and she did a very good narration. I used both the audio and the print advanced reader copy in my reading. I did not find one better than the other. It did demand focus from me so I was glad to have both on hand, there are great maps of the trail in the book and they are helpful to clarify events and time lines.
Thanks to NetGalley for the print Advanced Reader Copy
p.s I listened and read while day hiking in Estonia and Finland. What hidden gems these beautiful places are in the Fall!
September 1, 2023
What a disappointment this was. Besides being poorly organized and hard to follow, it felt like the author was grasping at straws to create enough content for this book. Some parts were absolutely infuriating - specifically, when the author ignored her misgivings about the scam doctor's "DNA detector" and hired him anyway, giving a grieving mother false hope. Maybe that's "investigative journalism," but to me it sounds a lot like idiocy. She even acknowledges the idea that they might be doing more harm than good, but then chooses an alternative interpretation of their actions.
Don't even get me started on the psychic or the interpretation of targeted Facebook ads in looking for "signs."
I listened to the audiobook and shuddered every time the reader pronounced "San Jacinto."
Don't even get me started on the psychic or the interpretation of targeted Facebook ads in looking for "signs."
I listened to the audiobook and shuddered every time the reader pronounced "San Jacinto."
January 3, 2024
This is the third book about the search for people lost in the American wilderness that I’ve read in the past few years. I guess I need to add a GR shelf, since this is a topic that is clearly of interest to me.
Some themes recur in all of the books ("stay on the f*ing trail"), but each has a specific focus. In this one, Andrea Lankford recounts the efforts to find three young-ish men (from my perspective, someone in their 30's is classifiable as young but perhaps this is not accurate) who disappeared along the Pacific Crest Trail in three successive years.
At 2,600+ miles, the PCT offers a lot of territory in which to get lost. Once a through-hiking route favored primarily by committed, experienced hikers, it has become popular with people more enthusiastic than skilled since the publication of Cheryl Strayed's Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Most people who are lost along the trail are eventually accounted for one way or another; the fact that these men have not been makes their stories stand out.
But this book isn't just about the men or the trail, or even the family members who are unable to properly mourn since there is no explanation for what happened. Much of the focus is on the people, primarily women, who were determined to find answers to these disappearances and devoted significant portions of their lives to the process. The searchers. Their sacrifices also translate to personal growth.
As always in a book of this type, there is a lot of fascinating information about history, and nature, and even technology. For instance, I've decided that if I ever have reason to travel through Idyllwild, CA, I'm not getting out of the car. The Idyllwild rattlesnake is one of the deadliest in the US, with venom loaded with neurotoxins. And although it's definitely a critter to watch out for on the PCT, it's also found in homes and backyards and parks in the area.
Lankford writes about two technologies recently having gained attention among those searching for the lost. One appears to be nothing more than a "scientifically proven" hoax, while the other, the use of very high resolution photos taken by drones, has been demonstrated to be effective.
There are so many reasons a young man (I'm sticking with this term) might vanish in the wilderness. He could have strayed from the trail and become lost. He might have been attacked by one of those rattlers, or a cougar, or a grizzly up near the Canadian border. (Lankford argues that the black bears along the PCT are pretty laid back. Hmm...) He might have put himself in a risky position in order to get a really great selfie, and fallen down a cliffside. He might intentionally have gone off-trail in an effort to distance himself from society in pursuit of self-discovery and not been able to get back when he wanted to.
He might have become involved with a cult, at least one of which is known to befriend PCT hikers and convince them to break ties with their families. Or he may have been a victim of violence at the hands of another hiker. Although Lankford acknowledges this possibility, she makes another distinction between the Appalachian Trail (where the bears are less Zen) and the PCT: there has never been a documented murder along the PCT. Sadly, this is not the case with the AT.
One last observation from the book. The reason fewer women than men go missing in the wilderness is not simply because fewer women venture into the wilderness. Women are more on guard, with more highly developed self-preservation instincts. They trust less and take fewer risks.
And me - I always stick to the trail, but I will keep on hiking.
Some themes recur in all of the books ("stay on the f*ing trail"), but each has a specific focus. In this one, Andrea Lankford recounts the efforts to find three young-ish men (from my perspective, someone in their 30's is classifiable as young but perhaps this is not accurate) who disappeared along the Pacific Crest Trail in three successive years.
At 2,600+ miles, the PCT offers a lot of territory in which to get lost. Once a through-hiking route favored primarily by committed, experienced hikers, it has become popular with people more enthusiastic than skilled since the publication of Cheryl Strayed's Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Most people who are lost along the trail are eventually accounted for one way or another; the fact that these men have not been makes their stories stand out.
But this book isn't just about the men or the trail, or even the family members who are unable to properly mourn since there is no explanation for what happened. Much of the focus is on the people, primarily women, who were determined to find answers to these disappearances and devoted significant portions of their lives to the process. The searchers. Their sacrifices also translate to personal growth.
As always in a book of this type, there is a lot of fascinating information about history, and nature, and even technology. For instance, I've decided that if I ever have reason to travel through Idyllwild, CA, I'm not getting out of the car. The Idyllwild rattlesnake is one of the deadliest in the US, with venom loaded with neurotoxins. And although it's definitely a critter to watch out for on the PCT, it's also found in homes and backyards and parks in the area.
Lankford writes about two technologies recently having gained attention among those searching for the lost. One appears to be nothing more than a "scientifically proven" hoax, while the other, the use of very high resolution photos taken by drones, has been demonstrated to be effective.
There are so many reasons a young man (I'm sticking with this term) might vanish in the wilderness. He could have strayed from the trail and become lost. He might have been attacked by one of those rattlers, or a cougar, or a grizzly up near the Canadian border. (Lankford argues that the black bears along the PCT are pretty laid back. Hmm...) He might have put himself in a risky position in order to get a really great selfie, and fallen down a cliffside. He might intentionally have gone off-trail in an effort to distance himself from society in pursuit of self-discovery and not been able to get back when he wanted to.
He might have become involved with a cult, at least one of which is known to befriend PCT hikers and convince them to break ties with their families. Or he may have been a victim of violence at the hands of another hiker. Although Lankford acknowledges this possibility, she makes another distinction between the Appalachian Trail (where the bears are less Zen) and the PCT: there has never been a documented murder along the PCT. Sadly, this is not the case with the AT.
One last observation from the book. The reason fewer women than men go missing in the wilderness is not simply because fewer women venture into the wilderness. Women are more on guard, with more highly developed self-preservation instincts. They trust less and take fewer risks.
And me - I always stick to the trail, but I will keep on hiking.
September 20, 2023
The premise of a former national park ranger with expertise in search and rescue tackling the cases of three hikers who disappeared from the Pacific Crest Trail in 2015-17 caught my eye. I'm not a hiker, nor an outdoorsperson of any kind really, so I was looking forward to dipping into a world I know basically nothing about, with the true crime hook. Indeed, the book really seems to be of a larger cultural moment where armchair sleuthing has boomed via countless podcasts, shows, and endless books. For the most part, the book eschews any real examination of why she, and some of the other searchers she teams up with are keen to spend so much time, energy, and money, putting themselves in danger, trying to track down these people they have no personal connection to.
It starts off promisingly, as the author explains her time with the National Park Service and establishes her credentials as an expert in wilderness search and rescue. I actually could have used more on her time as a ranger -- which I later realized was probably all in her first book, Ranger Confidential. She then introduces the cases of three young men who were last seen on the Pacific Crest Trail (which runs more than 2,500 miles from Canada to Mexico), and covers some quite treacherous terrain. After the first third of the book, which sets things up, including the history of the trail, it all starts to get a little choppy and confusing.
To be sure, the reader gets a really good picture of the subculture of "thru hikers" (hikers trying to do the entire length of the trail), and the various support networks around the trail, especially the volunteer "trail angels" who maintain shelters and provide support. However, the actual "relentless search" is often confusing to follow, as she hops between the three missing, various timelines, various locations, and various partners in searching. There are discrete patches that are quite interesting, for example an attempt to use aerial photography and volunteers who pore over the results. The detective work of chasing down people who may or may not have seen the missing, working out clues from photos and Facebook posts -- that's all classic amateur sleuthing stuff that's pretty well done.
But this is undermined by the indulgence in crackpot stuff, such as repeated use of a psychic, and especially a clearly crackpot (and expensive) scam involving an absurd DNA detector. And while I hesitate to say too much -- readers who crave resolution from their non-fiction narratives may want to think twice before starting down this book's trail. By the end, the choppiness of the narrative had really taken its toll, and I'm not sure I'd recommend. Readers who are avid hikers will probably find this pretty interesting, but as a true crime book, it doesn't really hold together.
It starts off promisingly, as the author explains her time with the National Park Service and establishes her credentials as an expert in wilderness search and rescue. I actually could have used more on her time as a ranger -- which I later realized was probably all in her first book, Ranger Confidential. She then introduces the cases of three young men who were last seen on the Pacific Crest Trail (which runs more than 2,500 miles from Canada to Mexico), and covers some quite treacherous terrain. After the first third of the book, which sets things up, including the history of the trail, it all starts to get a little choppy and confusing.
To be sure, the reader gets a really good picture of the subculture of "thru hikers" (hikers trying to do the entire length of the trail), and the various support networks around the trail, especially the volunteer "trail angels" who maintain shelters and provide support. However, the actual "relentless search" is often confusing to follow, as she hops between the three missing, various timelines, various locations, and various partners in searching. There are discrete patches that are quite interesting, for example an attempt to use aerial photography and volunteers who pore over the results. The detective work of chasing down people who may or may not have seen the missing, working out clues from photos and Facebook posts -- that's all classic amateur sleuthing stuff that's pretty well done.
But this is undermined by the indulgence in crackpot stuff, such as repeated use of a psychic, and especially a clearly crackpot (and expensive) scam involving an absurd DNA detector. And while I hesitate to say too much -- readers who crave resolution from their non-fiction narratives may want to think twice before starting down this book's trail. By the end, the choppiness of the narrative had really taken its toll, and I'm not sure I'd recommend. Readers who are avid hikers will probably find this pretty interesting, but as a true crime book, it doesn't really hold together.
September 14, 2023
2.5’ish. Interesting premise but it needed a better editor/cohesiveness of the overall story. Jumped around, dragged on, and was a bit tiresome to finish.
September 21, 2023
This was exactly what I hoped it'd be, minus conclusive answers on any of the main three missing men covered in it. I've lived in Washington my whole life and had never heard of the PCT somehow, and hearing places I've been to multiple times on vacation mentioned as base camps for searchers was wildly interesting.
Lankford did a fine job balancing personal experience and opinion, science and statistics, and covering multiple cases progressing around the same time period. I was impressed at her composed discussion of the more colorful aspects of such cases - trail weirdos, facebook trolls, wannabe helpful psychics, and other hikers who chimed in with distracting, false sightings and leads. She also kept it fact-focused, something I found missing in Jon Billman's similar book, The Cold Vanish, where he meandered off about Bigfoot and conspiracy theories.
Lankford did a fine job balancing personal experience and opinion, science and statistics, and covering multiple cases progressing around the same time period. I was impressed at her composed discussion of the more colorful aspects of such cases - trail weirdos, facebook trolls, wannabe helpful psychics, and other hikers who chimed in with distracting, false sightings and leads. She also kept it fact-focused, something I found missing in Jon Billman's similar book, The Cold Vanish, where he meandered off about Bigfoot and conspiracy theories.
April 23, 2023
This is an exceptional investigation/memoir. For the most part, I am over the true crime investigation meets white woman memoir. In this case, however, Lankfotd’s focus is on the missing and the people impacted by it, and her insertion is just enough to establish her credibility. She does not make it all about her or create two parallel story tracks. She is has so much empathy for the parents, passion for nature and curiosity about science/techniques that can help and it really comes through. I highly recommend this book, which I received in an advance copy from the publisher and Netgalley.
September 11, 2023
Spoiler alert:
Three people go missing, lots of people look, find nothing. Lots of meanderings and theories. Pointless book.
Three people go missing, lots of people look, find nothing. Lots of meanderings and theories. Pointless book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2023
2015: A young man goes into the wilderness and disappears.
2016: A young man goes into the wilderness and disappears.
2017: A young man goes into the wilderness and disappears.
In Trail of the Lost, Lankford chronicles three disappearances on the Pacific Crest Trail—Chris Sylvia, Kris Fowler, and David O'Sullivan—and the efforts made to find them. A park-ranger-turned-nurse, she got involved in one of the unofficial searches almost by accident, but once she was in, she couldn't turn away.
I read Lankford's Ranger Confidential in 2016, and it left me with the sense that she had loved her work but was deeply burnt out by the time she left. This proved to be a better fit of a book for me, partly because I adore both thru-hiking books and search-and-rescue memoir, but also because Lankford is uniquely qualified to write it. Lankford more than had the qualifications to take part in the search efforts, and she proves here that she also has the research and writing skills to weave a very complicated story. This is three stories in one, mixed with numerous others—because inevitably, over the course of years of searching and researching, Lankford and the scrappy team of searchers she was involved with stumbled across, or were asked to investigate, other missing-persons cases. No spoilers, but what the investigations turned up varied widely.
Most missing-person cases in the wild are resolved quickly, but that was not to be the case for any of these three. It makes for a twisty and turny ride, with leads including a cult, multiple psychics, questionable science (read: the kind of science that the book is here to critique, not to promote), drone footage, solo accidents, accidents involving other people, and much more.
One thing that might turn some readers off: Lankford has a tendency of mentioning mental illness in the context of crime ("...a thirty-two year-old man with a history of mental illness..." (loc. 3148*); "...mentally ill fugitive..." (loc. 3638); "...attacked by a mentally deranged man" (loc. 4539); etc.). It's never a main point of the story, but then, neither is any of these individuals' mental health relevant to whatever parts of the story Lankford tells. Again, not a big enough part of the story for me to draw conclusions, but enough to mention...and to remind anyone who is still reading that people with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violent crimes than to commit them themselves.
Overall, a fast and gripping read if you're drawn to wild spaces, mysteries, and stories taking place in the intersection of those things. May be of interest to readers of Kathryn Miles' Trailed and Jon Billman's The Cold Vanish.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
*I read an ARC, and quotes may not be final.
2016: A young man goes into the wilderness and disappears.
2017: A young man goes into the wilderness and disappears.
In Trail of the Lost, Lankford chronicles three disappearances on the Pacific Crest Trail—Chris Sylvia, Kris Fowler, and David O'Sullivan—and the efforts made to find them. A park-ranger-turned-nurse, she got involved in one of the unofficial searches almost by accident, but once she was in, she couldn't turn away.
I read Lankford's Ranger Confidential in 2016, and it left me with the sense that she had loved her work but was deeply burnt out by the time she left. This proved to be a better fit of a book for me, partly because I adore both thru-hiking books and search-and-rescue memoir, but also because Lankford is uniquely qualified to write it. Lankford more than had the qualifications to take part in the search efforts, and she proves here that she also has the research and writing skills to weave a very complicated story. This is three stories in one, mixed with numerous others—because inevitably, over the course of years of searching and researching, Lankford and the scrappy team of searchers she was involved with stumbled across, or were asked to investigate, other missing-persons cases. No spoilers, but what the investigations turned up varied widely.
Most missing-person cases in the wild are resolved quickly, but that was not to be the case for any of these three. It makes for a twisty and turny ride, with leads including a cult, multiple psychics, questionable science (read: the kind of science that the book is here to critique, not to promote), drone footage, solo accidents, accidents involving other people, and much more.
One thing that might turn some readers off: Lankford has a tendency of mentioning mental illness in the context of crime ("...a thirty-two year-old man with a history of mental illness..." (loc. 3148*); "...mentally ill fugitive..." (loc. 3638); "...attacked by a mentally deranged man" (loc. 4539); etc.). It's never a main point of the story, but then, neither is any of these individuals' mental health relevant to whatever parts of the story Lankford tells. Again, not a big enough part of the story for me to draw conclusions, but enough to mention...and to remind anyone who is still reading that people with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violent crimes than to commit them themselves.
Overall, a fast and gripping read if you're drawn to wild spaces, mysteries, and stories taking place in the intersection of those things. May be of interest to readers of Kathryn Miles' Trailed and Jon Billman's The Cold Vanish.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
*I read an ARC, and quotes may not be final.
November 13, 2023
The equivalent of a wild goose chase in book form.
Talk about trail of the lost. This book meandered all over the place. It did not stay on the trail. This lacked focus, and was doing circles and retracing steps.
This book is supposed to be about three Pacific Crest Trail hikers: two that were missing in the San Jacincto Mountain range, and one other person, in Washington, almost ready to complete his journey.
So we have three narratives, right? Well, it starts out OK, with the author explaining their stories and their persona before they got lost. That is good for about one hundred pages.
After that, the book goes into detours, loop de loops, and my head was spinning from all the unsavory characters the author introduces, which have little or no impact on the crux of the story, which I am still trying to figure out.
I thought this book was going to be straightforward: maybe some twists, some leads, false hopes, then leading to finding at least ONE hiker? Not the case.
While this is well-meaning, it is basically a rambling journal article. This was labeled by the publisher on the book sleeve that this was a "true crime thriller". The true crime is that I spent many hours slogging through nonsensical drivel about all these unconnected characters. I fell asleep more than once reading this tripe.
Do yourself a favor and read "Where You'll Find Me" by Ty Gagne, or any of his other books. He knows how to write a story tragedy in the mountains and search and rescue.
Talk about trail of the lost. This book meandered all over the place. It did not stay on the trail. This lacked focus, and was doing circles and retracing steps.
This book is supposed to be about three Pacific Crest Trail hikers: two that were missing in the San Jacincto Mountain range, and one other person, in Washington, almost ready to complete his journey.
So we have three narratives, right? Well, it starts out OK, with the author explaining their stories and their persona before they got lost. That is good for about one hundred pages.
After that, the book goes into detours, loop de loops, and my head was spinning from all the unsavory characters the author introduces, which have little or no impact on the crux of the story, which I am still trying to figure out.
I thought this book was going to be straightforward: maybe some twists, some leads, false hopes, then leading to finding at least ONE hiker? Not the case.
While this is well-meaning, it is basically a rambling journal article. This was labeled by the publisher on the book sleeve that this was a "true crime thriller". The true crime is that I spent many hours slogging through nonsensical drivel about all these unconnected characters. I fell asleep more than once reading this tripe.
Do yourself a favor and read "Where You'll Find Me" by Ty Gagne, or any of his other books. He knows how to write a story tragedy in the mountains and search and rescue.
August 19, 2023
Trail of the Lost by Andrea Lankford was a book I thought would be right up my alley. It really seemed to suffer from superfluous amounts of information. You could tell Ms. Lankford is passionate and enthusiastic about her second and helping families find their missing loved ones. One thing I liked very much was learning all about the thru-hikers and their codes and ways. I had no idea they were so interconnected and there were so many 'trail angels' willing to help with a bite to eat, a place to stay or just companionship. That in itself would make a fantastic book. I just wish I could have kept track of all of the Characters in the tale
August 12, 2023
"And one more thing, call your mom."
I've been follow the story of Sherpa for years. I joined the FB group long ago, since I'm from the PNW, and my heart always broke when his mom would post something and follow up with a request for a phone call. I first heard about David O'Sullivan's story while watching the show Disappeared. I was floored because, again, it involved the PCT and he was so early in his trek before he vanished. Sadly, I'd never heard of Chris Sylvia until I cracked this book.
It always blows me away when people disappear. I feel like I'm in thousands of random photos in the background, oblivious, or in some type of CCTV footage daily. But something like the PCT is the perfect place for someone to disappear. And that makes these stories compelling.
I grabbed this for the cover and title but stayed for the well-told, heart-wrenching stories. The behind-the-scenes peek into SAR searches, drone views, the squinters, and the long hikes were jaw-dropping but also inspiring. Even knowing the up-to-date info on at least 2 of the stories, I was completely drawn into the humanity and love in this story. I can't imagine the heartache of the not knowing so learning all they have done to try to find them was astounding and amazing. This is well written and hooked me from the first page. I hope Andrea Lankford keeps telling us stories, I'll definitely keep reading them!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I've been follow the story of Sherpa for years. I joined the FB group long ago, since I'm from the PNW, and my heart always broke when his mom would post something and follow up with a request for a phone call. I first heard about David O'Sullivan's story while watching the show Disappeared. I was floored because, again, it involved the PCT and he was so early in his trek before he vanished. Sadly, I'd never heard of Chris Sylvia until I cracked this book.
It always blows me away when people disappear. I feel like I'm in thousands of random photos in the background, oblivious, or in some type of CCTV footage daily. But something like the PCT is the perfect place for someone to disappear. And that makes these stories compelling.
I grabbed this for the cover and title but stayed for the well-told, heart-wrenching stories. The behind-the-scenes peek into SAR searches, drone views, the squinters, and the long hikes were jaw-dropping but also inspiring. Even knowing the up-to-date info on at least 2 of the stories, I was completely drawn into the humanity and love in this story. I can't imagine the heartache of the not knowing so learning all they have done to try to find them was astounding and amazing. This is well written and hooked me from the first page. I hope Andrea Lankford keeps telling us stories, I'll definitely keep reading them!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 10, 2023
basically i was interested in the premise of this book and the story itself, but this had poor execution. it was way too confusing for me and the author went on so many tangents. my husband and i listened to this together and he also gave it 2 stars.
June 1, 2023
"On the trail of the lost, you may not find what you're searching for, but you will find more than you seek."
I love 'Missing 411' by David Paulides, and I loved 'The
cold Vanish' by Jon Billman, so I was excited to get a copy of this and dive right in. I was not disappointed.
This non-fiction novel focuses on three missing person cases on the PCT. All three went missing around the same time, one after the other, but each case was unique. It follows the investigations of each to their conclusions. I won't give anything away, but it was riveting and captivating and mysterious. I couldn't put this down. it was so freaking good.
I love 'Missing 411' by David Paulides, and I loved 'The
cold Vanish' by Jon Billman, so I was excited to get a copy of this and dive right in. I was not disappointed.
This non-fiction novel focuses on three missing person cases on the PCT. All three went missing around the same time, one after the other, but each case was unique. It follows the investigations of each to their conclusions. I won't give anything away, but it was riveting and captivating and mysterious. I couldn't put this down. it was so freaking good.
September 23, 2023
I actually really enjoyed reading this and had some flashbacks to good times before one of my friends joined the cult mentioned in the book... but ultimately the lack of resolution made me question the point of this book.
July 24, 2023
A haunting read that will stay with you.
This book had me hooked from the very first page, I could not put it down. The writing flows easily across the pages.
As a former NPS ranger with many years of SAR (Search & Rescue) under her belt, Andrea Lankford finds herself drawn to the disappearance of three men on the PCT over a three year interval.
As her curiosity grows, we embark with her on her journey to figure out what happened to these men. Many people join in on the search, including the families who have been searching from the start. As the book progress you get invested in these stories, in these three men. What happened to them? Where are they?
Lankford plunges you into hiking culture and brings you on a trip from the PNW to the Mexican border to find these missing hikers. She does not shy away from details of the investigation, searches and how brutal it is for the families having to live through this.
Trail lingo is used in the book, which is explained by the author, for those not familiar with it.
As the author states, this book is also a cautionary tale. A cautionary tale to all hikers or want to be hikers: Nature can be unforgiving, no matter how experienced you are. As most experienced hikers know, magnificent beauty can come at a great price. This book is a stark reminder of that. Having hiked the West Coast Trail and in Walbran valley I know how challenging and utterly terrifying things like storms, wild animals (cougars) and shady people can be at times for hikers.
This is a great book, I highly recommend it for those who enjoy reading mysteries or about the great outdoor.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book had me hooked from the very first page, I could not put it down. The writing flows easily across the pages.
As a former NPS ranger with many years of SAR (Search & Rescue) under her belt, Andrea Lankford finds herself drawn to the disappearance of three men on the PCT over a three year interval.
As her curiosity grows, we embark with her on her journey to figure out what happened to these men. Many people join in on the search, including the families who have been searching from the start. As the book progress you get invested in these stories, in these three men. What happened to them? Where are they?
Lankford plunges you into hiking culture and brings you on a trip from the PNW to the Mexican border to find these missing hikers. She does not shy away from details of the investigation, searches and how brutal it is for the families having to live through this.
Trail lingo is used in the book, which is explained by the author, for those not familiar with it.
As the author states, this book is also a cautionary tale. A cautionary tale to all hikers or want to be hikers: Nature can be unforgiving, no matter how experienced you are. As most experienced hikers know, magnificent beauty can come at a great price. This book is a stark reminder of that. Having hiked the West Coast Trail and in Walbran valley I know how challenging and utterly terrifying things like storms, wild animals (cougars) and shady people can be at times for hikers.
This is a great book, I highly recommend it for those who enjoy reading mysteries or about the great outdoor.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2024
This book was well written, but it was so frustrating to read! It's about the search for three missing hikers, but they are never found! The lack of a resolution made me question the point of this book.
November 27, 2023
You know when you anticipate a book will be amazing, and then it is! Yes, this is that book.
Admittedly this asks more questions than it answers and there are mysteries unsolved in some cases, but Lankford has a fantastic way of writing. I was hooked on the reading and stayed up until 03:00 in the morning on one occasion to read on.
I think this appealed to me as I have no intention of entering the Great American Wilderness and have no shame in saying that I can live vicariously through those who do. Those who go missing in that pursuit are another kettle of fish altogether. What fate befell them? Did they want to disappear away from humanity? Were they the victim of human crime or animal attack? Or were they just unlucky and succumb to bad weather/unstable rock/a misstep from the path?
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, I was completely captivated from start to finish. I definitely intend to re-read.
Brilliant 5 star read.
Admittedly this asks more questions than it answers and there are mysteries unsolved in some cases, but Lankford has a fantastic way of writing. I was hooked on the reading and stayed up until 03:00 in the morning on one occasion to read on.
I think this appealed to me as I have no intention of entering the Great American Wilderness and have no shame in saying that I can live vicariously through those who do. Those who go missing in that pursuit are another kettle of fish altogether. What fate befell them? Did they want to disappear away from humanity? Were they the victim of human crime or animal attack? Or were they just unlucky and succumb to bad weather/unstable rock/a misstep from the path?
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, I was completely captivated from start to finish. I definitely intend to re-read.
Brilliant 5 star read.
July 15, 2023
Fans of Jon Krakauer's writing will devour this odyssey of trying to find three hikers who disappeared of the Pacific Crest Trail. Andrea Lankford, a former cop and park ranger, has gone on many different search and rescue missions and there is nothing worse than not being able to bring home a missing person. The Pacific Crest Trail is over 2,600 miles long and is not for the faint of heart. Cheryl Strayed popularized the route after her memoir, Wild, became an international bestseller. An experienced searcher and hiker herself; Andrea finds herself drawn to three missing person cases of hikers gone missing on the PCT trail. Together with their mothers and a tenacious searcher named Cathy they spend years of their life, sanity, and resources combing the wilderness and following up leads. Heartfelt, educational, and ultimately hopeful; rather than dissuading hikers from attempting the trek, this story still makes the route beautiful while putting on strong cautions and safety warnings for it. Wonderful writing.
January 21, 2024
Author highlights the enormous tasks of searching for missing Pacific Crest Trail hikers. While the narrative mainly focuses on three hikers and their families, the author does tell of other lost travelers, trail angels, local authorities, and the ever present scammers to the grieving families. Highly recommended reading for all future hikers, and arm chair travelers alike to the very really dangers present on the PCT.
November 25, 2023
This is a solid 3.5 stars for me. It’s such an emotional subject, but handled with so much sensitivity and intention.
My only gripe with the book is that the main three missing people were never found, so all the clues and leads seem like a misdirect. It broke my heart that they are still missing, and it made me sad.
My only gripe with the book is that the main three missing people were never found, so all the clues and leads seem like a misdirect. It broke my heart that they are still missing, and it made me sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2024
If I were rating this purely on writing quality, I'd have to bump it up another star or two. I spent so much of the book irritated and ranting about idiocy and lack of understanding of basic scientific and statistical principles that the compelling narrative was the only reason I didn't give up in the first few pages.
However, writing quality is not the only quality on which to rate a book. Particularly not when that book is non-fiction. And on every other possible assessment of non-fiction, Lankford should be absolutely ashamed of herself.
To start, there are very simple, highly probable answers to each of the "mysteries" of the missing hikers she profiles. They got injured, lost, or both. Possibly they had an accident with one or more of the many hazards on the trail. O'Sullivan almost certainly got turned around, ran out of water, and died of heat exhaustion and dehydration somewhere in the brush. Alternatively, he might have slipped and fell down a ravine somewhere. Fowler entered the Cascades during extreme poor weather and likely died of hypothermia, exposure, drowning, or a fall. Their bodies haven't been found because the PCT covers a vast swathe of wilderness, the majority of which an experienced searcher who properly understands the risks of the trail knows better than to enter. Sylvia is the only one with even a sliver of a chance to have simply decided to run off with a cult or go off-grid, but even he most likely simply got lost and/or injured, ran out of water, and died of dehydration or heat exhaustion.
That Lankford not only insists on believing otherwise, thereby prolonging the suffering of the families involved, but profited by writing a book that treats the disappearances like entertainment is inhumane to the point of cruelty. I had hoped for something with the journalistic quality of Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster or the scholarship and compassion of They Leave Their Kidneys in the Fields: Illness, Injury, and Illegality among U.S. Farmworkers (California Series in Public Anthropology). Instead, Lankford wrote a lurid, paranoid account of completely improbable "possibilities" designed to entice the armchair sleuthing crowd that insists on believing everything is a conspiracy.
It doesn't help that Lankford gets some of the most basic of facts wrong. A PCT hiker will not cross the borders of three countries. They will cross exactly one border: that between the US and Canada. The trail starts on the US side of the border with Mexico. There is no crossing at that point. It is impractical for a hiker to even try. To anyone with experience on the PCT, the mistakes are enough to remove all credibility from anything else Lankford writes.
Here is the sad truth: hikers go missing due to natural hazards, arrogance, inexperience, and lack of preparedness. They stay missing because the terrain is so inhospitable that to conduct a search of every inch--or even every square mile--is impossible. As more and more inexperienced hikers insist on treating a backcountry trail like a walk in their local park, the number of those missing will increase. There is no mystery. There is certainly no conspiracy. Only a painful reality that everyone considering undertaking a 2,650 mile trek should understand before ever putting together their first gear list.
However, writing quality is not the only quality on which to rate a book. Particularly not when that book is non-fiction. And on every other possible assessment of non-fiction, Lankford should be absolutely ashamed of herself.
To start, there are very simple, highly probable answers to each of the "mysteries" of the missing hikers she profiles. They got injured, lost, or both. Possibly they had an accident with one or more of the many hazards on the trail. O'Sullivan almost certainly got turned around, ran out of water, and died of heat exhaustion and dehydration somewhere in the brush. Alternatively, he might have slipped and fell down a ravine somewhere. Fowler entered the Cascades during extreme poor weather and likely died of hypothermia, exposure, drowning, or a fall. Their bodies haven't been found because the PCT covers a vast swathe of wilderness, the majority of which an experienced searcher who properly understands the risks of the trail knows better than to enter. Sylvia is the only one with even a sliver of a chance to have simply decided to run off with a cult or go off-grid, but even he most likely simply got lost and/or injured, ran out of water, and died of dehydration or heat exhaustion.
That Lankford not only insists on believing otherwise, thereby prolonging the suffering of the families involved, but profited by writing a book that treats the disappearances like entertainment is inhumane to the point of cruelty. I had hoped for something with the journalistic quality of Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster or the scholarship and compassion of They Leave Their Kidneys in the Fields: Illness, Injury, and Illegality among U.S. Farmworkers (California Series in Public Anthropology). Instead, Lankford wrote a lurid, paranoid account of completely improbable "possibilities" designed to entice the armchair sleuthing crowd that insists on believing everything is a conspiracy.
It doesn't help that Lankford gets some of the most basic of facts wrong. A PCT hiker will not cross the borders of three countries. They will cross exactly one border: that between the US and Canada. The trail starts on the US side of the border with Mexico. There is no crossing at that point. It is impractical for a hiker to even try. To anyone with experience on the PCT, the mistakes are enough to remove all credibility from anything else Lankford writes.
Here is the sad truth: hikers go missing due to natural hazards, arrogance, inexperience, and lack of preparedness. They stay missing because the terrain is so inhospitable that to conduct a search of every inch--or even every square mile--is impossible. As more and more inexperienced hikers insist on treating a backcountry trail like a walk in their local park, the number of those missing will increase. There is no mystery. There is certainly no conspiracy. Only a painful reality that everyone considering undertaking a 2,650 mile trek should understand before ever putting together their first gear list.
July 7, 2023
This compilation of stories of missing hikers on the PCT is downright eerie at times. The searches are harrowing, costly and time consuming and often fruitless. The elements can be scary and the author's experience as a park ranger and nurse provides the suspense and expertise that brings this home. The location, the personalities, and the grief of the searches stand out.perfect for those readers drawn to true crime and nature.
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
June 14, 2023
Format Read: Ebook from NetGalley (8/22/23)
Review: I have a curiosity about adventure seekers who go missing so this was right in line with my likes. Parts were very engrossing, and others were a bit blah. Since the stories have no real conclusion, I as left feeling lost too.
Recommended For: Non-fiction fans and those who enjoyed the book Wild.
Review: I have a curiosity about adventure seekers who go missing so this was right in line with my likes. Parts were very engrossing, and others were a bit blah. Since the stories have no real conclusion, I as left feeling lost too.
Recommended For: Non-fiction fans and those who enjoyed the book Wild.
May 2, 2023
The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the longest and toughest in the world - and one of the most famous, thanks in part to the best-selling book and the movie Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Every year, many people, known as thru-hikers, attempt to walk all 2,650 miles. But it is as challenging and dangerous as it is beautiful, and sometimes these attempts end badly. The author of this book recounts such cases, describing the search for three young men who disappeared there without a trace.
I have to admit that I chose this book to learn more about the PCT itself, expecting the lost person cases to be a starting point for a travel or nature book, just as the Saasquach is just a pretext for telling a deeper story in the wonderful In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond: In Search of the Sasquatch. However, while there is some background information, this is more of a classic true crime story - both gripping and frustrating as you root for a bunch of amateur searchers trying to help grieving families find out what happened to their loved ones. I was a little confused as to why someone would give up so much of their time, energy, and even health for a seemingly lost cause, but I suppose it can become a kind of fixation. I was also a little uncomfortable reading about psychics and fraudsters being treated as possible sources of relevant information. Nevertheless, it is a well-told, gripping story and I am sure true crime fans will find it compelling.
Thanks to the publisher, Hachette Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
I have to admit that I chose this book to learn more about the PCT itself, expecting the lost person cases to be a starting point for a travel or nature book, just as the Saasquach is just a pretext for telling a deeper story in the wonderful In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond: In Search of the Sasquatch. However, while there is some background information, this is more of a classic true crime story - both gripping and frustrating as you root for a bunch of amateur searchers trying to help grieving families find out what happened to their loved ones. I was a little confused as to why someone would give up so much of their time, energy, and even health for a seemingly lost cause, but I suppose it can become a kind of fixation. I was also a little uncomfortable reading about psychics and fraudsters being treated as possible sources of relevant information. Nevertheless, it is a well-told, gripping story and I am sure true crime fans will find it compelling.
Thanks to the publisher, Hachette Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
September 17, 2023
The book is well written and the author has an interesting voice. But I found this story to be incredibly frustrating. NOTHING IS ACCOMPLISHED. This book is marketed as a search for three specific hikers. Yet none of them are found. And I'm not sure we even learn anything new about their disappearances. Instead, the only resolution we're offered is the author's sidetracks into stories of missing hikers that are solved. I probably would have liked the book more if it had been marketed as the story of SEVERAL lost hikers so I didn't spend the entire time wondering when something would finally happen only to be annoyed at the end because I felt like my time had been wasted by three fruitless searches. Also, there's a strange disconnect between the way Arpad Vass's scam was portrayed and how the "psychic" was presented. But, again, the author has an interesting voice and I hope she continues to have a successful writing career.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2023
An excellent book by a former park ranger about the disappearance and investigation of three men missing from the PCT. The subject is handled respectfully and is well written. I'm really interested in checking out the author's other works.
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