Trail of the Lost

The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail

By: Andrea Lankford

Narrated by: Kristi Burns

From an award-winning 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 off: 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 encountered: missing person Facebook groups. Andrea launches an investigation, joining forces with an eclectic team of amateurs who are determined to solve the cases by land and by screen: 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.

Beautifully written, heartfelt, and at times harrowing, TRAIL OF THE LOST paints a vivid picture of hiker culture and its complicated relationship with the ever-expanding online realm, all while exploring the power and limits of determination, generosity, and hope. It also offers a deep awe of the natural world, even as it unearths just how vast and treacherous it can be.

On the TRAIL OF THE LOST, you may not find what you are looking for, but you will certainly find more than you seek.

** THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER **

Fascinating!

Really interesting story! Well paced and a good amount of detail without being confusing. Strong narration, too.

Very good book

I listened to this over the course of 2 days while driving. Very informative. I hope one day these hikers will be brought home.

Excellent book

Great book, good for a long car ride! Enjoy her writing style. Shows true passion for those she writes about.

Fascinating story

The book covers the stories of several missing hikers and their families. It also tells about the volunteers that searched for the missing and how they learned new methods to be more effective. The part of the book about the different kinds of threats on the PCT was interesting, if I ever hike it I will definitely avoid the cult members and stay alert for mountain lions. I don't usually give a book 5 stars but this one deserves it.

Fascinating story, made me want to learn more

This book was so interesting that I wanted to go out and see if there were any updates about the lost hikers. Also liked seeing how the tech evolved in the searching techniques. Would think that AI could help the squinters