Todd Hofflander - Hells Canyon Wilderness - Idaho

Todd Hofflander - Hells Canyon Wilderness - Idaho

Author: Locations Unknown March 20, 2021 Duration: 58:55
September 24th 2010, 39 year old Todd Hofflander joined some friends on a multi day hunting trip in the remote Idaho wilderness area called Hells Canyon.  As an experienced hiker, Todd was well equipped to spend multiple days in the backcountry and had been on trips like this before.  On the 4th day of the trip, Todd experienced knee pain and decided to split from the group.  This would be the last time anyone would see Todd until his remains were discovered a decade later.  Join us this week as we discuss the disappearance of Todd Hofflander.  

(We experienced some slight audio issues with Mike's feed on this episode.  We'll have it fixed next ep)  

Joe recently represented the podcast on the History Channel's The Unxplained with William Shatner.  View our spot here: https://youtu.be/CdR80jn4Cls  

Sponsors of today's episode:   Milwaukee Pretzel Company:  Visit their online store at milwaukeepretzel.com for a variety of pretzel sizes, gift boxes and of course, my favorite, the famous 1lb Bavarian Beast soft pretzel. Milwaukee Pretzel will ship nationwide – even to Hawaii.  MKE Pretzel has extended a special coupon code for all Location Unknown listeners. Just use the code UNKOWN20 at checkout to receive 20% off of your order – specific terms may apply.   

Want to advertise on the podcast?  Visit the following link to learn more.  Advertise on Locations Unknown  

Want to help the show out and get even more Locations Unknown content!  For as little as $1 a month, you can become a Patron of Locations Unknown and get access to special Current Event episodes exclusive to Patreon.  Become a Patron of the Locations Unknown Podcast by visiting our Patreon page.  

New Patreon shout out: Jacob Wiese, Amber Bridges, Drew Nedley, & Nicole Victor.  

Shout out to Strange Outdoors for helping us on the research of this episode.    

Learn about other unsolved missing persons cases in America's wilderness at Locations Unknown.   
Follow us on Facebook & Instagram.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/locations-unknown--6183838/support.

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…