Many hikers hike the Pacific Crest Trail hoping to escape into soul- satisfying solitude. The Pacific Crest Trail may be a pretty environment, but it is filled with sinister traits like fugitives, trolls, and fraudsters.  Three hikers have gone missing on the Pacific Crest Trail this year?and not many people know of this. They have not been found yet.

According to Andrea Lankford in her new book, “Trail of the Lost”, in three separate cases men from the ages 24-35 have gone missing on the PCT in 2015, 2016, and 2017. They have not been found. Two of the three disappeared in Southern California and the other vanished in the mountains of Washington. In Southern California they have stopped investigating according to Lankford. She also writes in her book that on this West Coast 2,650 mile trail, criminals like to seek hideout.

As a 19 year old attending Los Medanos College this topic caught my attention right away. I live in the Bay Area on the West Coast and I have many friends and family that hike the PCT. I have even hiked it myself. I did not even know about it and I would hate if one of my loved ones went missing on that trail.

I am seeking out a plea for public attention because this needs to be exposed to the public eye for everyone’s safety. People need to be prepared and aware of what they are getting into when they walk into the woods or climb a mountain. I am hoping that my plea can furthermore shed light on the dangers of the PCT and better prepare future hikers.