Locations Unknown

Locations Unknown

Welcome to Locations Unknown, a podcast that dives into the mysteries of America's wilderness. Join hosts Mike & Joe as they explore the stories of those who have vanished without a trace in some of the country's most remote and treacherous landscapes. In each episode, we uncover the details of these disappearances, examine the investigations that followed, and discuss theories about what might have happened. From national parks to remote deserts, our journey takes you to the heart of the unknown, shedding light on the eerie and unexplainable. Tune in and discover that, sometimes, the wilderness holds more than just beauty—it has secrets. Presented by Unknown Media Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/locations-unknown--6183838/support.

Episodes

January 25, 2026 63 mins
May 2019 to May 2022: three men travel alone into the vast desert backcountry of Death Valley National Park; one to cache water in a remote canyon, another to check on a vehicle at an isolated hot spring, and a third who never returns from a campground on the park’s edge. Each disappearance triggers a search. None of them are found. What do these cases reveal about risk, scale, and survival in one of the most unforgiving landscapes...
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February 13th, 2014: a 56-year-old experienced outdoorsman drives deep into Arizona’s Tonto National Forest for a planned multi-day solo hike. After parking along a quiet highway near the community of Young, he leaves behind a note describing his route and steps into some of the most rugged backcountry in the state. Days later, concern begins to grow, triggering a large-scale search across remote canyons and forested ridgelines. Wh...
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Today we’re sitting down with Tay, a Southern girl turned road-warrior and modern explorer who approaches adventure with confidence, intention, and a grounded perspective.

A single mom and storyteller at heart, Tay creates outdoor and travel narratives designed to help women step into big, wild places feeling prepared and empowered. Through thoughtful destination inspiration, practical safety insight, and carefully built itineraries...
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October 30th, 2022: a 35-year-old counselor sets out alone into the storm-soaked rainforests of Olympic National Park. As an experienced hiker with survival training, she planned a multi-day trek into the remote backcountry. But as a powerful Pacific storm hammered the valley with freezing rain and rising rivers, she never returned. Despite an intensive multi-agency search, no trace of her has ever been found. Join us this week as ...
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February 11th, 2017, a 40-year-old man from New York, deep in a mid-life crisis, vanishes into a brutal winter storm at Great Sand Dunes National Park. Miraculously he is rescued after five freezing nights, calling it his “mission to the stars.” Just three months later, he returns alone to the same vast Colorado wilderness—and disappears a second time with no trace. What drove him back to the dunes that nearly killed him the first ...
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November 12th, 2012, a seasoned hiker and devoted runner fails to show up for work after a solo trip to Virginia’s Confederate Breastworks Trail. His car is discovered days later, packed with food and supplies, but no sign of him. Despite a massive five-day search across rugged, fog-shrouded ridges and icy hollows, not a single trace is found. What happened on that cold, windswept mountain? Join us this week as we investigate the m...
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Last week, we introduced you to Bobbie Jo Oberholtzer and Annette Schnee, two women who vanished the same night while hitchhiking from Breckenridge, Colorado. As a brutal winter storm swept across the Rockies, searchers braved sub-zero temperatures through Hoosier Pass and the surrounding wilderness. What they found were only scattered belongings, and haunting clues buried in the snow. Tonight, we return to that frozen mountainside...
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With all the buzz surrounding the Gwen Hasselquist case and the upcoming Crime Junkie episode (releasing October 27, 2025), we thought it was the perfect time to re-release our original four-part series on Gwen’s story, first published in 2021. For Gwen’s family, friends, and everyone who cared deeply for her, we’re truly grateful her case is finally receiving the attention it deserves.

That said, we need to get something off our ch...
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With all the buzz surrounding the Gwen Hasselquist case and the upcoming Crime Junkie episode (releasing October 27, 2025), we thought it was the perfect time to re-release our original four-part series on Gwen’s story, first published in 2021. For Gwen’s family, friends, and everyone who cared deeply for her, we’re truly grateful her case is finally receiving the attention it deserves.

That said, we need to get something off our ch...
Mark as Played
With all the buzz surrounding the Gwen Hasselquist case and the upcoming Crime Junkie episode (releasing October 27, 2025), we thought it was the perfect time to re-release our original four-part series on Gwen’s story, first published in 2021. For Gwen’s family, friends, and everyone who cared deeply for her, we’re truly grateful her case is finally receiving the attention it deserves.

That said, we need to get something off our ch...
Mark as Played
With all the buzz surrounding the Gwen Hasselquist case and the upcoming Crime Junkie episode (releasing October 27, 2025), we thought it was the perfect time to re-release our original four-part series on Gwen’s story, first published in 2021. For Gwen’s family, friends, and everyone who cared deeply for her, we’re truly grateful her case is finally receiving the attention it deserves.

That said, we need to get something off our ch...
Mark as Played
In January 1982, two women vanished just hours apart while hitchhiking from Breckenridge, Colorado, during one of the worst winter storms the Rockies had seen in decades. As temperatures plunged below –20°F, friends and rescuers scoured the frozen corridors of Pike National Forest, finding only scattered clues and a deepening mystery. Join us this week for Part 1 of Lost in the Shadow of the Rockies: The Disappearances of Bobbie Jo...
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This week we take flight into the world of raptors, nature’s most skilled aerial predators. From hawks and eagles to owls and falcons, these incredible birds shape ecosystems and inspire conservation efforts across the globe. We explore how education, rehabilitation, and hands-on experience help protect them for future generations, and uncover what it’s really like to work up close with these powerful creatures. Whether you’re a wi...
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In 2019, Locations Unknown covered a young photographer bound for winter shots at Crater Lake National Park. The case spawned wild theories, unsubstantiated lore, and even an episode of The UnXplained with William Shatner. This week, we return with new FBI releases to separate myth from record. We revisit his route near Stump Lake, the Bybee Creek discovery, and the brutal winter terrain that shaped his fate.  Join us this week as ...
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September 13, 2025 51 mins
Nestled just beyond Los Angeles, Angeles National Forest sprawls over 700,000 acres of rugged wilderness, where jagged peaks, deep canyons, and twisting trails beckon hikers, climbers, and adventurers year-round. With stunning vistas of the San Gabriel Mountains and its close proximity to one of America’s largest cities, this forest is as captivating as it is untamed. Yet, while many leave with cherished memories and photos, some v...
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September 5, 2025 82 mins
We’ve got a special episode for you this week! Joe and I recently joined the podcast Crime Off the Grid to dive into three fascinating cases alongside two former law enforcement park rangers. Since we’re out of the office, we’re excited to share their episode—ad free—right here on our feed in case you missed it. We hope you enjoy!

Episode summary from Crime off the Grid:

This week, we’re joined by the hosts of the Locations Unknown P...
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August 22, 2025 63 mins
Towering at 6,288 feet in the White Mountains, Mount Washington—home to world-record 231 mph winds and brutal weather—draws millions with its historic Auto Road, rare alpine plants, and extreme spring skiing. While most enjoy its trails and epic views, some vanish forever. Join us this week for another installment of “National Forest Cold Cases” as we explore Mount Washington in New Hampshire’s White Mountains National Forest.  Cas...
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September 17th, 2024 a young adventurer embarked on a solo seven-day trek through rugged, isolated terrain fraught with grizzlies, sudden storms, and treacherous cliffs. Amid fog, sleet, and howling winds, he reached the summit of Eagle Peak, leaving a chilling note about his ordeal before vanishing without a trace. Join us this week as we investigate the disappearance of Austin King-Henke in Yellowstone National Park.

Learn more ab...
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We're away this week putting the finishing touches on our new studio, but we'll be back with a brand-new episode on August 8th! Until then, please enjoy a classic from the vault: "Daniel Robinson - Sonoran Desert - Arizona." We've remastered the audio, so it sounds better than ever. (Originally aired: January 13, 2023)

On June 23rd, 2021, a geologist working on a remote job site in the Sonoran Desert, west of Phoenix Arizona, starte...
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We're out of the office this week putting the finishing touches on the new studio! We'll be back with all-new shows the first week of August. Until then, enjoy a classic from the vault: "Grand Canyon Cold Cases." It's the episode that kicked off our Cold Cases series, and we've cleaned up the audio so it sounds better than ever. (Original air date: 2/17/23)

With over 52 million acres, the US National Park system is home to some of t...
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