California Ghosts of the Pacific Crest Trail Artwork

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After my father's death, I had some strange stuff happen that nudged me to learn about the supernatural. What I've been finding out is life is way more complicated, strange, and wonderful than I'd ever dreamed. The best part? Science is starting to catch up. I focus on the place where science and supernatural collide. What does it mean to be a soul in a meat suit? All episodes are made and offered in love. *All Curious Cat content is owned and operated by Storm Mystery Press LLC

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Curious Cat

California Ghosts of the Pacific Crest Trail

October 17, 2025 • Jennifer Hotes • Season 5 • Episode 32

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There's a trail that runs from the Mexico-U.S. border north through California, Oregon and Washington, ending at the Canadian border. A grueling test of grit and endurance, it's no surprise those that attempt some or parts of the Pacific Crest Trail are changed. Long after blisters heal over, hammies stop aching, shins come back to normal, the stories of the trail linger in the minds of hikers. Is it the hours alone? Or the silence? Or the senses that become sharper watching for shifts in weather and wildlife? Or something else, like a hitchhiking ghost, that stays with them after leaving the PCT?

The west coast of the United States is one I know well, like the back of my hand. But as I've been learning about trail angels, trail pirates, hitchhiking, and uncovered the people that have gone missing on this stretch of trail? It's become a place I don't recognize, that fascinates and scares me.

Grab a Bobo bar and a glass of water!

Let's get into it!

This episode covers:

Pacific Crest Trail 101

Hiker Horror Stories

Hiker Cautionary Tales

Cascadia High Strangeness

Halfway Anywhere's PCT Hiker Survey Information

A Tribute by a Father Who Lost His Son on the PCT

About that song at the end...

Quiet Storm by Alana Jordan

Show Sources and Materials

Halfway Anywhere's Patreon (sign up for FANTASTIC outdoors content - so good in fact that Outdoors Inc. and others have been stealing his work and taking credit)

Pacific Crest Trail Horror Stories 2024, HalfwayAnywhere.com

The Cult That Lived Next Door, Jack Neath, Medium.com

Creepy Pacific Crest Trail Stories, Ranker.com

Anza Borrego's Haunted Desert, DesertUSA.com

Trevor's Eternal Trail, Doug Laher, thetrek.co

I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment.

That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.

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