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 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 outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: OnMilwaukee, Wall Street Journal, Grouse Mountain, GMToday (1), GMToday (2), Strange Outdoors, CBC, Global Mail   **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.

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 Follow us on Facebook at Off the Trails Podcast If you have your own outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: Wikipedia - Death Valley, NPS - Death Valley, AZcentral, Instagram - Emily Henkel, The Prepared, YouTube -Goal Zero, YouTube - Outdoor Disasters, Podcast - Emily Jones   **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.

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! Follow us on Instagram at offthetrailspodcast Follow us on Facebook at Off the Trails Podcast If you have your own outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: KPCW STRANGE OUTDOORS USDA MEDIUM PARK RECORD CHARLEY PROJECT EAST IDAHO NEWS TRAVEL ARC BLOG    **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.

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 darker?   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 outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: Strange Outdoors, Cowboy State Daily, Casper Star Tribune, FPCG.net, Navigating Advocacy, Runners World, Outside Online, USFS - Shoshone National Forest, Forestry.com, The Darkest Places Book   **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.

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 National Forest. This forest has several large but non-contiguous sections in California and Nevada so details may not be accurate to the area being discussed. For more info see Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Apologies for any confusion! - Danielle  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 outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: CBC News, Daily Mail, Oregon Live, Penticton Heral, Daily Mail 2, CNN    **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.

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 outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: PCT Association, Fresno Bee, YouTube - Fresno Bee, ABC7, Backpacker, YouTube - FD Adventure, Wikipedia - Kings Canyon NP, More Than Just Parks, Visit Sequoia, NPS, Cascade Climbers, The Backcountry   **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.

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 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 outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: bartlesvilleradio, Obituary, examiner-enterprise, thecount.com, Reddit, kjrh news, nwaonline.com, TripAdvisor, 5 News Online, WebSleuths   **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.

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 offthetrailspodcast Follow us on Facebook at Off the Trails Podcast If you have your own outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: AllTrails, Desert Sun (1), Desert Sun (2), Desert Sun (3), Washington Post, People, NBC, Daily Mail, YouTube - Outdoor Disasters, NatGeo, NPS, California.com, NPS - Reports   **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.

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 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 outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: Columbian News Article, Charley Project, NAMUS, ABC News, USDA, USDA Source 2, StrangeOutdoors, AllThatsInteresting, Seattletimes, Kiro7   **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.    

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 offthetrailspodcast Follow us on Facebook at Off the Trails Podcast If you have your own outdoor misadventure (or adventure) story that you'd like us to include in a listener episode, send it to us at [email protected]   Please take a moment to rate and review our show, and a big thanks if you already have!   Episode Sources: NPS, Irish Times, Daily Mail, NPS - Safety, Weather, GoFundMe, Jackson Hole News & Guide, Thousand Oaks Acorn, Reddit, Wikipedia, NPS - Weather, Jackson Hole Press, YouTube - Rusty West   **We do our own research and try our best to cross reference reliable sources to present the most accurate information we can. Please reach out to us if you believe we have mispresented any information during this episode and we will be happy to correct ourselves in a future episode.