Three hikers gone missing on the Pacific Crest Trail: Chris Sylvia in 2015; Kirk Fowler in 2016; and David O'Sullivan in 2017.
Two women determined to find them: Andrea Lankford and Cathy Tarr.
And their families who never gave up hope.
I have always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail. I even sent away for maps of it once. But I'm not good with dirt and bugs, sunburn and sweat, camping out for days at a time, or sleeping on the ground. So I'll probably never hike it from start to finish. (Though I do still harbor hope that I might manage to hike parts of it someday.) But I absolutely love reading about those who do set out on these long trails. I've read several accounts of thru-hikers who have hiked the Appalachian Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail. And I'm always amazed by their exuberance, optimism and tenacity.
Trail of the Lost is an equally compelling account, but it's a sad one, too. Tarr and Lankford do everything they can to find the PCT missing: track down and interview other hikers, retrace the hikers' last known steps, organize search parties (lots of search parties!), hire drone operators to fly over the area, follow every lead and clue, and share in the parents' heartache and grief. Not just for a month or two. But for years. But sometimes the lost are never found.
Lankford's writing is vivid and well-researched; she paints quite a picture of what it's like to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. And she meets a lot of very interesting people along the way. Trail of the Lost is an engrossing and memorable book. I'd give it 4.5/5 stars.
Happy Reading!
Similar--and equally good--read:
I also long wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail but never had the chance and it's highly unlikely I ever will, but I love reading about others who have gone on such adventures.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about their adventures, too! Living vicariously through books...that's me. :D
DeleteThis does sound pretty fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI hiked part of the Appalachian trail once! (A week's worth in Virginia.) It rained practically the whole time & we were so drowned... Still it was beautiful.
That's so cool! I've heard the Virginia part of the trail is really beautiful. Though I really don't like hiking (or camping) in the rain.
DeleteBoth books sound good. Thanks for bringing them to my attention!
ReplyDeleteGrrrr! Blogger strikes again, bless its heart...
DeleteBlogger is so annoying! I keep finding my own comments in the spam folder.
DeleteGreat review, Lark! Yes, I am with you, no thanks to camping, bugs etc., but I do like hiking!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy hiking, too, though I don't do it as often as I would like.
DeleteOh. Oh. I have to read this don't I?
ReplyDeleteYou really do! I was thinking of you when I started writing my review of this one. :D
DeleteI respect and admire all the hikers no matter where they go because I know I'll never go to such trips, lol. But I do love reading about their adventures so these books sound great to me.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be the kind of person who does take these kinds of hiking trips, but I'm just not. That's why I love reading about them so much. :D
DeleteThis sounds really good. I've always kinda wanted to hike the Appalachian trail too. Don't think I'll ever get the chance, but, you never know, maybe someday.
ReplyDeleteMaybe someday! I keep thinking that, too. It would be so fun to at least hike part of it. :D
DeleteThis sounds great! I like the idea of doing one of these long hiking expeditions... but I know the reality of it would not suit me at all!
ReplyDeleteThat's me exactly. Though I still kind of want to push my limits and do something that takes me out of my comfort zone. and a hike like this would totally do that.
DeleteI have this one on my library hold list right now, but it looks like it may still be a month or so away from coming up for me. I'm looking forward to it. Oh, and...from your description of yourself at the beginning of the post...keep reading about the hike. Do not go any closer than that. LOL
ReplyDelete:D Reading is probably the way for me to go on these long hikes. As much as I always wanted to be an outdoorsy kind of girl, I'm more of an indoor cat.
DeleteI love the thought of thru hiking, but I don't know if I'd be able to make that big of a commitment. I wouldn't mind hiking portions of Appalachian Trail. I'd be more likely to do portions of the PCT since it's closer. I think I've already hiked some of its parts.
ReplyDeleteThis does sound like an interesting read even if it is sad.
I'm closer to the PCT too, but I've always loved the thought of hiking from Georgia to Maine and seeing so much of the East Coast. Should have gone for it 20 years ago though, when I had more energy, and didn't have so many responsibilities and boring bills to pay. ;D
DeleteYes, that probably would be a prettier trail. I hear ya on the "should've 20 years ago"! Lol! Although, I have heard of people in their 80s doing a full marathon, so maybe at 53 yrs old it is possible, haha! :)
DeleteIt's kind of scary how some of those people are enver found. And I remember seeing The Cold Vanish around (maybe here!) and thinking it sounded excellent.
ReplyDeleteIt is unnerving to think some people just go out for a hike and never come home. And I loved Cold Vanish. Both books are so good!
DeleteI hope you’re well my friend. Regine
ReplyDelete:D Thank you, Regine!
DeleteI'm always amazed by those who undertake such arduous hikes. It's scary how many go missing. :(
ReplyDeleteIt is scary. I don't like hiking alone for that very reason.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did!
ReplyDeleteIt was so good! I love reading books like this. :D
DeleteOh that is probably everyone worst nightmare..
ReplyDeleteThe not-knowing would be so awful!
DeleteIt's crazy how many hikers go missing hiking that trail.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy! Especially when they never find any sign of them, or any clues as to what really happened.
DeleteThis sounds fascinating and I'm adding it to my TBR. I'm fascinated by the number of missing people who have gone missing in National Parks and this sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very compelling book. Definitely worth reading.
DeleteOh wow, this sounds incredibly sad. Like you, I have always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail--actually ever since the first time I read Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. But, like you, I am not about to backpack for that kind of a hike. May I recommend the Hadrian's Wall Path as a perfect alternative? We stayed in B&Bs every night, ate in pubs, and hired a service to transport our suitcases from one stop to the next...and we hiked for 11 days! I wish PCT and Appalachian Trail offered similar experiences, but at least we can read about them.
ReplyDeleteStaying in B&Bs every night and eating in pubs sounds like my kind of hiking adventure. :D
DeleteI have always like the idea of doing a long hike but I am not sure that I would like the reality of it. This sounds like it would be a very compelling read.
ReplyDeleteThat's totally me! I want to do it, but I don't think I'd enjoy the actuality of it.
DeleteHiking is not for me, but I do enjoy reading about person who are brave enough to do so.
ReplyDeleteI like reading about brave and adventurous people, too, even though I'm neither. ;D
DeleteI read Wild by Cheryl Strayed where I think she also hiked the PCT and it was a life changing experience for the better but it was also dangerous even with her preparation. I would like to read this book.
ReplyDeleteI read Wild, too, and loved all the hiking parts. I think you would like this book, too. :D
DeleteI love going for trail walks but a real hike like this one, I can't imagine being able to do. I really am impressed by people that can do these types of adventures! Really sounds like a fascinating read and so glad to hear you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed by anyone who manages to do one of these long hikes, too! I wish I had more of that in me. :D
DeleteI can only what an experience it would be to walk trails like this. This sounds like a good one. I am glad you enjoyed it, Lark.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very compelling read...but sad, too.
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