Off the Trails

Hells Canyon lived up to its name for Todd Hofflander, who disappeared while on a multi day hike and camping trip never to be seen alive. Was there an accident or does the canyon hold the secrets of what happened there in September of 2010? 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  Faceb...

Sylvia Apps was experienced and well equipped.  She took safety seriously and made sure someone knew when she was planning to return, but despite all those things and extensive searching why was she never found? What secrets does Vancouver Island hold? 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 u...

Two former college lovers reunite for an adventurous trip deep into the Amazon rainforest. Their shared dream of exploring this vast wilderness turns into a harrowing ordeal as they become lost, facing dehydration, wildlife, and their own inner demons. As days stretch into uncertainty and despair, their bond is tested to the limit. Each moment becomes a desperate struggle for survival, testing the...

For Cathy Frye and Rick McFarland, celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary should have been a fun and relaxing trip. A last minute change in plans ensured it was anything but fun or relaxing. Poorly marked trails in Big Bend Ranch State Park led the couple down a path that became a desperate struggle to survive.  If you enjoy this episode consider supporting us on Patreon  for as little as $1 a...

Happy 4th of July Week! Though we don't have a regularly scheduled episode for this week- we did want to share one of our Patreon Exclusive episodes with everyone. If you're interested in getting bonus episodes each month, please consider joining our Patreon for as little as $3 to unlock exclusive content! In the heart of Mount Hood National Forest, Pamela Salant and her boyfriend, Aric Essig, emb...

Some decisions we make hardy feel like decisions at all, while others feel monumental. Do we have a sense of the small decisions that ultimately are life altering, or is the realization only after it's too late to go back? For David Koch the decision to catch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean ended in the worst way possible. Support us on Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starti...

A flat tire is a common inconvenience; an experience that leaves most people late and flustered but unscathed. However, a flat tire 25 miles from a main road in Death Valley quickly spiraled into a deadly situation for Alexander Lofgren and Emily Henkel.    Support us on Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspodcast Fol...

Without clear signposts or trail blazes to guide, you have to trust your instinct and sense of direction. Are you willing to bet your life on those intangible skills? Was Fern Baird unable to navigate back to the trailhead in Sawtooth National Forest? Was she a victim of the elements, or something else... Support us on Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Fo...

Amy Wroe Bechtel, took off to scope out the course for an upcoming 10k, only to vanish without a trace. As the days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into years, the search near the Shoshone National Forest turns up nothing. With no clues except a missing wallet, everyone is left wondering- what really happened to Amy? Did she have an accident or was her disappearance the result of something much da...

There's a huge sense of adventure embarking on a road trip; with nothing more thrilling than the open road. For Rita and Albert Chretien a trip between British Columbia and Las Vegas went from adventure to deadly when their path took a treacherous turn.   *CORRECTION NOTICE* I talk about “Humboldt National Park” as it was stated in several news publications but it’s actually the Humboldt-Toiyabe N...

Deep in the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park surrounded by nothing but nature is a picturesque scene. That is, until a freak accident leaves Gregg Hein fighting to survive.   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 your own outdoo...

What happened to Rodney Letterman in Devil's Den State Park feels like a puzzle with too many missing pieces. But who holds those pieces? Investigators? The friend who was with him the day he disappeared? An unknown third party who Rodney crossed paths with in the woods? Without enough details, we're left to speculate and fill in the blanks ourselves.   Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1...

A birthday hike quickly took a treacherous turn when the celebration became a tragedy. Searchers and families were braced for the worst, but what was found would become another twist in the mysterious deaths of Joseph Orbeso and Rachel Nguyen in Joshua Tree National Park.   Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offth...

Deep in the woods of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest a search for meaning and enlightenment took a tragic turn. Maureen Kelly’s ill-fated spiritual quest didn’t provide the peace and answers she sought, rather created questions and heartache for those who loved her. Contact Skamania County Sheriff's Office with any information at (509) 427-9490   Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a m...

What seemingly started as a casual day hike ultimately triggered one of the largest searches conducted in Grand Teton National Park. The disappearance of Cian McLaughlin left a void in the lives of those close to him while raising questions that may never be answered.   Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetra...

Location, location, location! Donnell Vista is well known for spectacular views, but it also has notoriety for being the location of several disappearances. To this day, the mysteries remain unsolved, leaving behind a dark shadow on an otherwise beautiful place.   Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offthetrailspod...

Two elements of outdoor adventures are being prepared and packing light. Although not mutually exclusive, it can be a challenge to pack enough without it being too much. Some who prioritize packing light over being prepared come to regret that decision when plans go awry.   Support us on  Patreon  for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on  Instagram  at offth...

In the heart of any wilderness area, whispers of mystery can be heard. People have vanished without a trace, leaving only unanswered questions in their wake. National Parks can be as dangerous as they are beautiful. Join us as we discuss a few of the many disappearances from Yellowstone National Park.    Support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Foll...

Many of us have facetiously said things like "I'm freezing to death". Exposure to the elements indeed takes many lives a year, but a small handful of people who have been clinically dead returned to tell their epic survival story. Survivors in this episode include: Erika Nordby, Anna Bågenholm, Stella Berndtsson, Ewa Wisnerska, and Mitsutaka Uchikoshi   Support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a...

In 2012, Park Ranger Margaret Anderson started her New Year's Day shift like any other at Mount Rainier National Park, where her and her husband worked for the past three years. Little did she know that a routine checkpoint that morning would set a series of events in motion that would leave two people dead and a park forever mourning the loss of one of their own.    Support us on Patreon for as l...

Coincidences by definition are remarkable concurrences of events or circumstances without apparent casual connection. However there comes a point when it’s hard not to question if it’s something more. Was Erika Lloyd’s pandemic road trip plagued by bad luck and coincidences or was it the “something more” we fear?   Support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3...

After thirteen seasons at the Athabasca Fire Lookout, veteran lookout Stephanie Stewart likely felt confident and comfortable at her post. However, a missed check-in call and subsequent search of the property quickly prompted a missing persons case that has been baffling authorities, locals, and web sleuths since.   Support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $...

In the summer of 2007 a group of friends embarked on a what should have been a fun long weekend trip. But when one of them mysteriously vanishes without a trace, their relaxing getaway turns into a now 17 year long mystery.   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 Trail...

Spin a globe and pick your destination. It sounds like something from a movie, but for Wolf Wagner and Johannes Hoentsch, it was just the beginning of their next adventure. However, losing a key piece of equipment halfway through set in motion what would end up being quite the misadventure.      Support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month, with benefits starting at the $3 tier! Follow us on...

Exploring all corners of the world means you're bound to encounter some treacherous landscapes, unpredictable situations, and things you've never seen before. Join Danielle as she discusses a few dangerous destinations found across Canada.   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...