Missing on the Pacific Crest Trail

Missing on the Pacific Crest Trail

Author: Locations Unknown September 21, 2020 Duration: 1:06:16
The Pacific Crest Trail, a trail that spans over 2,600 miles along the west coast of the United States, attracts hikers from all over the world.  Taking almost 5 months to complete, finishing the PCT is a feat very few have achieved.  Along the way, hikers experience the burning heat of the Mojave desert, the stunning snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, and the tranquil beauty of the Northwest’s temperate rain forests.  However, the PCT has a more mysterious side.  In recent years, a string of unsolved disappearances have puzzled those who live near and hike the trail.  Join us this week as we investigate several disappearances on the PCT and try to piece together what happened.  Thank you to all our new Patreon supporters - shout out to Neal Brophy, Mikhail Usov, Raul Gutierrez, Watson, Jamie Blackwell, Kate Thackery, & Lauren Beames.  We will be upgrading our Patreon offerings to include swag.  Stay Tuned for more details. Learn about other unsolved missing persons cases in America's wilderness at Locations Unknown. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram. Become a Patron of the Locations Unknown Podcast by visiting our Patreon page.

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Locations Unknown ventures into the silent, vast spaces where people have simply gone missing. Hosts Mike & Joe guide each episode through a specific case, piecing together timelines from the final known moments, through the often-frustrating official searches, and into the lingering questions that haunt families and park rangers alike. This isn't just a true crime podcast; it’s a close look at the intersection of human error, unpredictable nature, and the peculiar geography of places like dense national forests and isolated mountain ranges that can swallow a person whole. You’ll hear about the decisions made in the critical hours, the terrain that complicated everything, and the community of experts and amateurs who keep looking. The show naturally explores how these landscapes, while beautiful, hold secrets, making the wilderness itself a central character in every story. Tune in for a respectful, detailed examination of stories that end not with a conclusion, but with an open map and a deepened mystery. The podcast digs into the cultural fascination with these vanishings and what they reveal about our relationship with the wild, remote corners of the country.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 173

Locations Unknown
Podcast Episodes
Park Rangers Unplugged: Tasers, Trails, and True Crime [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:06
Join us this week for a great conversation with Tara and Nancy, retired Yellowstone National Park law enforcement Rangers and hosts of Crime Off the Grid. They share unforgettable experiences from their careers, from int…
Checking in w/ Danielle & Cassie from National Park After Dark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:42
On April 23rd, 2025, we hosted a nearly five-hour livestream to celebrate our current studio, which we'll be leaving later this spring due to upcoming building renovations. During the event, we interviewed Danielle and C…
Larry Conn - Kings Canyon National Park - California [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:13
In October 2012, an experienced hiker vanished amid an early-season snowstorm near California's remote Taboose Pass. Despite extensive search efforts hindered by brutal terrain, freezing temperatures, and blinding whiteo…
Bryce Gillies - Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:02
July 18 2009, a seasoned backpacker set off alone into the rugged wilderness of Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park. Facing scorching heat, limited water, and treacherous terrain, he soon found himself trapped in a remo…
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Cold Cases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:02
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park draws millions each year, captivated by its stunning beauty and volcanic wonders. But beneath its dramatic landscapes lie stories of visitors who've gone missing without a trace. This week,…
Thelma Polly Melton - Great Smoky Mountains National Park [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:39
On September 25, 1981, a 58-year-old woman mysteriously vanished while hiking a familiar Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. Moments after walking ahead of her friends, she disappeared without a trace. Strange behaviors…
Lost in Yosemite - The Disappearance of Joel Thomazin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:41
In September 2021, an experienced outdoorsman, vanished mysteriously during a solo hike in Yosemite's rugged Hetch Hetchy wilderness. Last seen above O’Shaughnessy Dam, he intended to fish at remote Lake Eleanor. Despite…
Into Thin Air: The Vanishing of Wesley Wamsganz in the Adirondacks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:00
November 20th, 2010—As darkness fell on Lake Placid New York, a 22-year-old hiker set off into the High Peaks Wilderness after his shift at The Downtown Diner. Several hiking parties spotted him in his green Carhartt jac…