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Silhouettes of three hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. Photo by Igor Pankovcin.

The National Trail System in the United States spans many thousands of miles of foot trail. The crown jewels of that system, of course, are the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail.

While the adventurous might look at those long trails and set their sights on hiking one end from end, not all manage to complete the journey. Many become disillusioned after days spent hiking in the rain, or because they become homesick, or because of the blisters that sprout on their feet.

And some simply vanish. Today we’re joined by New York Times Bestselling author Andrea Lankford to talk about her book, Trail of the Lost, the Relentless Search to Bring home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s an incredible story Andrea has researched and woven together around three young men seemingly determined to go end to end on that trail. 

0:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
0:12 Episode Intro with Kurt Repanshek
0:43 Almost Home - Randy Petersen - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
1:11 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
1:31 Smokies Life
1:54 Friends of Acadia
2:18 NPT Promo
2:36 Episode 297 - Trail of the Lost
40:36 No’easter - Nature’s Symphony - The Sounds of Acadia
41:22 Episode Closing
41:55 Orange Tree Productions
42:28 Splitbeard Productions
42:40 National Parks Traveler footer

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