A book that focuses on three of the missing hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail, this was an interesting look into the history of the trail, the culture of the PCT, methods police and sleuths have used to try and (sometimes successfully) find the missing, and the affect the missing have had on trail culture and search techniques. A little repetitive, I liked this book better than Ranger Confidential and liked that it focused on a trail that I'm not as familiar with.

I received a copy of this book for a review, all opinions are my own.

Last summer I walked Hadrian’s Wall, 84 miles across England. It was a challenge but nowhere near the gruelling trek of the Pacific Crest Trail. PCT is more than 2,600 miles long and doesn’t have a pub at the end of each stretch. And while we were in wild country for some of the walk, we were always within a mile or so from at least a farm. There was no chance of becoming “lost”.

The difficulties that PCT hikers face — and sometimes underestimate — is what attracts some climbers. Stunning views, remote wilderness, potential injuries, wild camping, and a sense of accomplishment all play a factor. While some hikers will do PCT in sections, over the course of many years, there are some thru-hikers determined to complete it within a few months. They typically start at the Mexican board in the spring and reach Canada by early fall. These thru-hikers are required to apply for a permit which helps manage the number of hikers and spread out their start dates to avoid clumping on the trail.

And yet, despite these discomforts, the experience was so life-altering, it wasn’t uncommon for thru-hikers to be afflicted by what they called post-hike depression after they completed the journey and reintegrated into society. ~ Loc. 620

Author Andrea Lankford has just about seen it all. She thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail (the East Coast cousin of the PCT), served as a National Park Service ranger, led search and rescue efforts, operated as a criminal investigator, fought fires, and taught wilderness rescue skills. She left NPS and became a registered nurse, but the unsolved cases of the PCT continued to haunt her.

Trail of the Lost collects the investigations of Lankford as she searches for three hikers who went missing. She wrangles members of online groups, family members, locals, and psychics. She reviews trail logs, creates timelines, and then heads out in a plane fitted with lidar to search for new clues. She even discredits bunk science that preys on the last hopes of grieving families. Lankford puts her own safety on the trail time and again, determined to figure out what happened to the hikers.

The book is compelling as an interesting true crime/accident narrative, but it is also mindful. It does not sensationalize the disappearance of the hikers. Instead it puts them, as humans, and shows them to be the complicated, distinctive people they are. She highlights the hard work of all the amateur detectives dedicating their free time to finding answers. Lankford also reminds us all that answering the call of the wild is a dangerous game.

Thank you to Hachette for access to the e-galley. Read via NetGalley.

I continue to find books about people who search using science and forensics fascinating.
This one caught my attention because I always ask when people go missing what harkened??
The book chronicles the relentless search for three missing hikers who vanished along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Two things jumped out at me: the stupid bureaucracy that stymies research and possible answers and how drone aerial pictures helped successfully recover some victims.
I was crestfallen and disappointed at the end because the three missing people still remained lost.

Trail of the Lost was the second book of this nature I have read, and it really satisfied my craving for reading books about missing people in forests and National Parks. I really enjoyed the author's point of view, as she was a previous park ranger and nurse. She felt credible and very knowledgeable of the terrain and missing persons’ cases. As she takes you through 3 different main cases in the book, she also provides the back stories of the people searching for the missing hikers, as well as their families. She discusses the cases and their families with care and you can’t help but feel the sadness and sorrow of their situations. While the book does jump around a bit and I found myself lost at times, especially between the three main cases, it was a really enjoyable read that I could not put down. I wish it was longer!

**Book Review: TRAIL OF THE LOST - A Gripping Expedition into the Heart of Mystery and Wilderness**

*TRAIL OF THE LOST* is an enthralling journey that masterfully combines the beauty and danger of the American wilderness with the intrigue of a compelling mystery. Author Andrea Lankford, a former park ranger with a penchant for search and rescue operations, takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through the Pacific Crest Trail's rugged landscapes as she embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of three young men. Lankford's meticulous research and heartfelt writing offer a window into the complex world of hiker culture, search and rescue missions, and the evolving intersection of nature and technology.

Lankford's expertise shines through as she artfully weaves a tale of courage, determination, and the human spirit's indomitable will to find answers. As a former member of the National Park Service's law enforcement team, she deftly portrays the challenges and frustrations faced by those who navigate both the treacherous terrains of nature and the bureaucratic complexities of the agency. The author's personal experience brings an authenticity that adds depth to the narrative, making it a powerful tribute to those who dedicate their lives to saving others.

The heart of the book lies in its multifaceted exploration of the search for the missing hikers. Lankford's collaboration with an eclectic team of amateur sleuths showcases the strength of community and the lengths people are willing to go to uncover the truth. The diversity of characters, from a retired pharmacy manager to a government-employed mapmaker, contributes to a rich tapestry of perspectives and skills that come together to tackle the mystery head-on. The intertwining narratives of kidnappers, murderers, psychics, and fugitives make for a captivating read, evoking echoes of true crime storytelling.

Lankford's ability to convey the vastness and unpredictability of the wilderness is both mesmerizing and humbling. Her vivid descriptions of the Pacific Crest Trail's landscapes draw readers into a world of simultaneous beauty and danger. Whether depicting the serene tranquility of untouched nature or the heart-pounding tension of life-and-death situations, the author's prose captures the essence of the wild with remarkable clarity.

One of the book's strengths lies in its portrayal of the Pacific Crest Trail itself—a backdrop that has grown increasingly popular in recent years, thanks in part to Cheryl Strayed's *Wild*. Lankford provides an in-depth examination of the trail's evolving relationship with technology and the growing challenges presented by its popularity. Through her words, readers gain insight into the delicate balance between the thrill of adventure and the necessity for caution when navigating the trail's formidable obstacles.

While *TRAIL OF THE LOST* delves into the unknown fate of the missing hikers, it also raises thought-provoking questions about mental health. Lankford's occasional references to mental illness within the context of crime serve as a reminder of society's tendency to stigmatize such issues. However, these mentions do not detract from the main narrative and instead offer a subtle opportunity for reflection on societal biases.

In summary, *TRAIL OF THE LOST* is a captivating and poignant narrative non-fiction that delves deep into the heart of mystery and wilderness. Andrea Lankford's expertise, combined with her eloquent writing, creates a compelling exploration of human tenacity and the enduring connection between humanity and nature. This book is a must-read for those who are drawn to stories of adventure, resilience, and the unyielding pursuit of truth in the face of uncertainty.

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 with) 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.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I found this to be such a fascinating book. It was well researched being written by someone who was a ranger and was involved in search and rescue. I had never even heard of the PCT until this book. I only knew of the AT.
Lots of information on the history of the trail and how it came to exist, information on what people experience on this trail and why they try to do a thru hike on it. It touches on all the different dangers one may encounter but also on the all around culture of being a hiker.
This was an all around interesting and intriguing book because I wanted to learn what happened to these three hikers that seemed to have vanished. I wanted their families to have closure that needed and deserved.
Just very well written and researched and told.
Great for anyone who loves and adventure book.

For everyone who, like me, read Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and thought, “I could hike the Pacific Crest Trail!,” Andrea Lankford’s new book is a cautionary tale. Lankford is a former Park Ranger who left the service for a long career in nursing before finding herself wrapped up in events on one of the nation’s most famous hiking routes.

Trail of the Lost resembles many true crime stories, except there’s no proof of any crime. Lankford’s focus is the search for three young men who went missing while attempting to through-hike the Pacific Crest Trail—two in Southern California, the third in Washington State. All three disappearances could be explained in a multitude of ways: maybe they were fatally attacked by wild animals. Maybe they lost the trail and fell victim to exposure in extreme conditions. Maybe they were kidnapped or murdered. Or maybe they decided to go off the grid and start new lives.

The three men—Kris Fowler, Chris Sylvia, and David O’Sullivan—aren’t connected to each other, except through the unrelenting searches conducted to find them. The searchers, and Lankford’s protagonists in Trail of the Lost, aren’t law-enforcement officers, whom Lankford depicts as mostly sympathetic but detached. Instead, she follows the friends and family of the men, as well as amateur searchers who step in to help, devoting thousands of hours (and dollars) to combing the landscape on foot and by air, as well as carrying out interviews and pursuing even the slimmest of leads.

Lankford is a participant-observer in the searches for Sylvia, Fowler, and O’Sullivan, as she joins a loose team of mostly women devoted to resolving their disappearances. She introduces readers to numerous individuals involved in the searches (perhaps too many; I had difficulty keeping everyone straight at points), but none more memorable or impressive than Cathy Tarr. A volunteer who spends her days on the road, Tarr is, as the book’s subtitle states, relentless in her quest to find answers and track down every scrap of information related to the missing hikers. She embodies the selfless determination shared by so many of the people who appear in Lankford’s narrative.

Throughout the book, Lankford conveys the roller-coaster of emotions that such a search entails: excitement sparked by a promising clue, despondence when the trail goes cold, frustration when well-meaning bystanders send the investigation down a fruitless rabbit hole, anger when charlatans make empty promises to families in pain. Throughout it all, there is hope—hope that, against all odds, the missing will suddenly appear alive with an explanation for their long disappearance.

Trail of the Lost is an important reminder that even in the present day—with cell phones and GPS, as well as innumerable resources offering advice to hikers—undertaking an endeavor like hiking the PCT shouldn’t be done lightly. A simple day hike can go disastrously wrong, and even someone with experience and training, like Lankford, can find themself in a perilous situation.

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.

What an amazing told tale. I was hooked from the very beginning. Since reading the Wild book by Cheryl Strayed I have wished that I could hike the PCT. This definitely was intriguing and wonderfully told. I love that a small group continued to search for the missing 3 as well as others. Even though those that were found weren't necessarily and happy story it definitely added to the tale. I thought the author did an amazing job in telling some of the details of the trail, the angels and the different information about the trail. So much I didn't know.

This book reminded me so much of "Cold Vanish" by Jon Billman, in it's melancholy nature of losing loved ones in the wilderness. Image time after time being told they've found something and find out your relative is still missing? This follows the heartaches of four families. So if you like the TV show "Dissappeared" like I do, you'll find this a quick, intriguing read. I received a free copy for my honest review.

Author, Andrea Lankford, is a former Ranger and Nurse whose work on an unresolved missing person case on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) lead to her involvement in three more recent PCT missing persons cases. The PCT is a rougher version of the Appalachian Trail in the east and was not nearly as populated with hikers until Cheryl Strayed wrote her bestselling Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail about her own experiences hiking the trail. Since then, an increasing amount of both novice and experienced hikers have tried to tackle the trail. The three men who are written about here, went missing on different parts of the trail in the same year. Once the officials in charge stopped looking, volunteers like Andrea stepped in to take on the search and give their family members some modicum of support. This book follows the search and rescue operations involved with finding a missing person among thousands of miles of isolated national land. This is well written and an extremely interesting insight into what goes into these searches and just how hard it is to find someone after they start off on the trail. I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

"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 received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

TRIAL OF THE LOST follows the years-long search for three hikers lost on the Pacific Crest Trail. Lankford, highly experienced as both a nurse and a National Park Ranger, describes the ins and out of Seek and Rescue missions; including both the hope and the devastating heartbreak that comes with each lost person.

Lankford describes harrowing, and ultimately heartbreaking, attempts to locate the young men alongside the families and strangers. This book was engaging and educational, not only on the ins-and-outs of what it can take to find a lost person, but also hiking and the culture of the PCT. While the ending didn't provide the full closure I was naively anticipating, Lankford was honest and ended the TRAIL OF THE LOST on as hopeful a note as possible.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

This was an interesting and sometimes very detailed journey the author took us on. I was amazed that so many people engaged in the missing cases and the true kindness that shone through. It was sometimes disheartening to hear about the families when no authority would listen or help them when a loved one went missing. Poor, poor families.

I hope I'll never be in the position that a loved one are missing from my life but if it would happen, I would want Andrea, Cathy, Jon, Morgan and many more to help me because they're the best.

Told in a journalistic style with minimal author presence, this is both the story of 3 missing young men and everyone who worked tirelessly to find them. It’s about perseverance, efforts and failures of law enforcement, and the importance of dedicated volunteers. It was an informative, compelling, and heartbreaking story.

I think there was just enough of Lankford’s presence since she isn’t the main focus. An important contributor, she tells the story of everyone else (mostly women).

I had some trouble zooming in on the images on my Kindle. Since they’re not transcribed in the book, I had to make out what I could and guess based on additional context.

There was something in the beginning that made me think there was a resolution or answers to the three men this book. SPOILER ALERT: We don’t. They’re still missing, presumed dead. That was disappointing but the reality when people go missing in the wilderness. Hopefully the paperback release will have updates since things are always changing.

A look into the search for three missing hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. The author goes into the people looking for these men and the search. I thought the story here was interesting, but I had a lot of problems with the organization. I think it could’ve been better to help the reader along/keep the info cohesive.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Such an exciting book, I have enjoyed reading it so much.
Well written, some chapters are a bit repetitive but, overall it's a smooth read.

As a hiker myself, my two biggest fears are injuries and getting lost in a trail area. I can’t even imagine the fear and grief that a family experiences when someone in their family disappears while on an adventure. Andrea Lankford does a stellar job of describing the heartache and fear from the families, the frustration from the searchers who want only to bring closure. From mountain lions and environmental concerns to genuine fear of the things people do to each other, it’s a somber ride.

Excellent descriptions of the PCT and what these hikers face on a daily basis. It breaks my heart that these missing young men have never been found, and I think of it often when we see missing posters from National Parks across the country on a near weekly basis.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books. I will definitely be picking up a final copy of this to share.

The author, a former Park Ranger specializing in search and rescue follows women who form a quirky group who dedicate themselves to searching for missing hikers, mostly three men whose mothers are close to the search themselves.

At times sad, at others engrossing. These stories of the men and the various search operations to find them over a span of years are often harrowing. We also get a feel for hiker life along with the life-and-death situations they face.

Not being a hiker I learned a lot of things and enjoyed the efforts search members will go to to bring missing people home. The author's style is narrative telling the good and the bad of hiking life. This is ultimately a sad book but it brings awareness and hope.