Off the Trails

Land disputes, a tale as old as time, have far too often ended in tragic loss of lives for those staking their claims. Land is a valuable and finite commodity, and those who feel they are losing control over it may resort to extreme measures to protect their stake. Support us on Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspod...

He wasn’t lost and he wasn’t inexperienced. Jordan Grider went into the northern Minnesota woods with supplies, experience, and a plan to spend the winter. Six months later, they found his campsite buried under snow but with evidence of blood everywhere. What happened to Jordan? Support us on Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at o...

Yellowstone is a place of extremes- intimidating wildlife, remote backcountry, towering peaks, and violent geological forces simmering just below the surface. It’s a landscape that draws millions each year, promising awe and escape. But not everyone who enters its boundaries makes it back out. In this episode, we’re heading into the strange and heartbreaking stories of people who vanished in and a...

In 2004 nine year old David Gonzales walked 50 yards to the family car in the middle of a sunny afternoon… and disappeared. For nearly a year, no one knew what happened. And then only a mile away a discovery was made. Support us on Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspodcast Follow us on  Facebook  at Off the Trails P...

Tom and Linda Bosworth set out for what should have been a fun off-road day in the New Mexico backcountry- but when their Jeep rolls over miles from help, everything changes. Stranded with scorching heat, limited water, and no way to call for help, they face impossible choices that push them to their limits. How far will they go to survive- and will rescue come in time? Support us on  Patreon  for...

The ground beneath our feet isn’t always as solid as we like to believe. There’s activity we can’t see. Sounds we never hear. And sometimes, without warning… the ground shifts. One night in 1997 Stuart and Sally Diver along with many others were unaware the mountain around them was about to give way destroying everything in seconds. The lives lost that day included: Mary Frances Phillips, Michael...

Two Virginia Tech students, a quiet date under the stars, and by morning — a double murder that still haunts the Appalachian woods. Over fifteen years later, the killer has never been found. Today we head to Caldwell Fields to ask: who took Heidi Childs and David Metzler’s lives- and why? Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Inst...

It was 1998 Reverend Mike Turner set out alone into the wild beauty of Wyoming’s Wind River Range. He had his gear, his journal, and his loyal dog Andy by his side. This hike was a final challenge to close out a well deserved sabbatical, but just four days into his hike, something went terribly wrong. Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follo...

In June of 2013, a seasoned outdoorsman set out for a solo camping trip in British Columbia. When his abandoned campsite was found, a search quickly began—one that would lead to a few clues, a lot of questions, and no clear answers. Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspodcast Follow us on  Facebook  at...

Nancy Ng had found her happy place at a yoga retreat along a lake in Guatemala. That was until she disappeared while kayaking. The hours and days that followed raised far more questions than answers. Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspodcast Follow us on  Facebook  at Off the Trails Podcast If you hav...

In 1991, David Whittlesey set off alone to raft the Grand Canyon in winter. When his boat capsized deep in the canyon, he was left stranded — barefoot, injured, and without supplies. For seven days, he battled the cold, hunger, and isolation… with no guarantee he’d make it out alive. Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram...

In 2007 William Pike and James Christie set off for a night on Mount Ruapehu. As they settled in for the night the volcano erupted and their adventure turned into a life-or-death race against time Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspodcast Follow us on  Facebook  at Off the Trails Podcast If you have y...

In the fall of 2012, two friends set off for a weekend hunting trip in rural Georgia. They split up– each to their own tree stand. But only one of them came back. Was it murder? A tragic accident? Or something no one expected? The story that follows is tangled in contradiction—physical evidence that tells one story, and a grieving family who believes another. Support us on  Patreon  for as little...

In October 2019, Rachel Lakoduk set out on a solo hike to Hidden Lake Lookout in Washington’s North Cascades. She planned to spend the night in the historic fire cabin to celebrate her 28th birthday. But a fast-moving snowstorm rolled in and she never returned. What followed was an extensive search and months without answers for her loved ones. **the cabin is actually first come first serve - I me...

In the summer of 2013, experienced climber Matt Greene disappeared without a trace in Mammoth Lakes, California. His car was in the shop, and there was no clear destination or reason for his sudden absence, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspodcast Follo...

We all wish we could escape our problems at some point, but rarely does anyone consider taking it to the extreme—faking their own death. It sounds like something straight out of a thriller novel, but these are real cases of people who went to incredible lengths—and failed—to fake their own deaths. Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us...

Stranded in the harsh Great Victoria Desert, father and daughter Matthew and Shannon McGough face dehydration, scorching heat, and desperation. With no water and hope fading, will they both make it out alive? Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspodcast Follow us on  Facebook  at Off the Trails Podcast I...

In December 1992, James and Jennifer Stolpa, along with their infant son Clayton, found themselves trapped in the middle of nowhere after a wrong turn onto a snow-covered road in Nevada. What started as a simple detour quickly became a nightmare of freezing temperatures, dwindling supplies, and a life or death choice—stay in their vehicle or brave the storm in hope of finding help. Support us on ...

The mysterious disappearance of 51-year-old Paul Miller during a 2108 solo hike in Joshua Tree National Park turned a celebratory vacation with his wife into a puzzling tragedy. Despite an extensive search, it would take over a year to get any answers. Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspodcast Follow...

The Crazy Mountains of Montana are a place of rugged beauty, and unsettling energy. In September of 2014, Aaron Hedges set out on a hunting trip with two friends. But something went wrong. A missed turn. And then—silence. Days turned to months, then years. When Aaron’s remains were finally discovered, it only created more questions. Awaxaawippíia - The Crow word referring to the Crazy Mountains  S...

In 1996, four German tourists disappeared in Death Valley, leaving only their abandoned van behind. Years later, when skeletal remains were finally discovered, the mystery deepened as to what happened in their final days. Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspodcast Follow us on  Facebook  at Off the Tra...

Mount Rainier is as deadly as it is beautiful. With unpredictable weather, tough terrain, and a history of disappearances, it’s no stranger to mystery.  In July 1999, Joe Wood set off for a short hike—but was never seen again. Despite extensive search efforts, no trace of him was ever found. Did he get lost? Fall? Or was something more sinister at play? Support us on Patreon  for as little as $1 a...

The Sea of Cortez—a breathtaking yet unpredictable expanse of water teeming with life, where beauty and danger exist side by side. In May 1995, cousins Mark Sorensen and Rob Rusnak set out on a daring sailing trip, but when a violent storm capsized their boat, adventure turned to survival. Stranded on a desolate island with no food, no water, and no way to call for help, they faced scorching heat,...

In November 2006, two teen hikers set out on what was supposed to be an epic adventure up Mount of the Holy Cross. Instead Tommy Hendricks and Matthew Smith, both confident and experienced, soon found that nature has a way of humbling even the most prepared among us. Support us on Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailsp...

In June of 2013, a man vanished during a visit to Mesa Verde National Park on what should’ve been a quick and easy hike. Despite an extensive search,his whereabouts remained unknown for years—until skeletal remains were discovered in 2020, sparking more questions than answers. Did the search miss something crucial, or did fate simply take a tragic turn? Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1...