Hiking offers a chance to unwind and connect with nature, a peaceful escape from everyday life. But for some, this relaxing activity becomes a tragic nightmare. These four hikers in the Southeast all disappeared in the woods without a trace. Decades later, their cases remain unsolved. What happened to Frances Apperson, Jason Knapp, Polly Melton, and Trenny Gibson?

Frances “Dell” Apperson, Linville Falls, North Carolina (2022)

On May 17, 2022, Frances “Dell” Apperson left her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her destination? Hawksbill Mountain Trail. Frances planned to meet her family for a hike in the rugged beauty of North Carolina’s Linville Gorge Wilderness. But the 67-year-old never made it.

When Frances didn’t show, family members repeatedly called her cell phone. She never answered or called back. At first, they assumed Frances had changed her mind, but their unease grew as the hours ticked by. Hawksbill Mountain is a more than two-hour drive from Charlotte. Did she have an accident along the way?

After four days of fruitless searching, Frances’ family officially reported her missing. On May 30, authorities discovered Frances’ vehicle at a parking lot near Linville Falls. Her 2013 silver Hyundai was locked, and there was no sign of Frances. The Linville Gorge area is rugged and remote with towering cliffs, thick forests, and unpredictable weather. Authorities feared Frances, who is deaf, may have gotten lost in the wilderness and was unable to call for help.

Despite extensive searches using helicopters, drones, and ground teams, authorities found only Frances’ scarf on the trail along with a small angel figurine identical to another in her car. Frances’ family has no idea why she went to Linville Falls instead of Hawksbill Mountain or what became of her. As of now, Frances Apperson’s disappearance remains unsolved.

Jason Knapp, Table Rock State Park, South Carolina (1998)

On April 12, 1998, 20-year-old Jason Knapp left his apartment in Clemson, South Carolina. His college roommates assumed he’d gone on a last-minute road trip, though he hadn’t mentioned any plans. As days passed without any word, they got concerned.

When Jason still hadn’t returned by April 17, his roommates contacted his parents in York, Pennsylvania. The pair immediately reported him missing. It was completely unlike Jason to vanish without a word. Had he decided to take a break from school? Was there something in his life his loved ones didn’t know about?

Nine days after Jason disappeared, a ranger at Table Rock State Park discovered Jason’s 1990 Chevrolet Beretta in the parking lot. Inside, a fingerprint on a parking stub matched Knapp’s prints, proving he’d entered Table Rock on April 12, Easter Sunday. Authorities also found an empty fast-food bag and a timestamped receipt from a nearby Bojangles. After that, the trail went cold.

Table Rock State Park is more than 3,000 acres with multiple trails that wind over rugged and remote terrain. Search teams scoured the area but found no trace of Jason. His family was perplexed. Why did he drive to a park 45 minutes away without telling anyone? He wasn’t one to hike alone, and he’d never mentioned Table Rock. Who, or what, was behind his disappearance in the woods?

Over two decades later, Jason Knapp’s missing person case remains unsolved. Every year, his mother Deborah travels to South Carolina to honor her son.

“It gets harder every year because I’m getting older and I’m not going to be here forever,” Deborah said of her annual trek. “I’d really like to know what happened.”

Polly Melton, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (1981)

On the afternoon of September 25, 1981, 58-year-old Thelma “Polly” Melton set off on an hike with two friends to enjoy the autumn views along Deep Creek Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The outing began like any other—relaxed and uneventful. But as they made their way along the trail, Polly suddenly quickened her pace and moved ahead of her companions. She called back that she’d meet them at camp, then walked over a hill and out of sight. They never saw her again.

Polly’s friends assumed she’d headed back to her RV, but she wasn’t there when they returned from their hike. Concerned, Polly’s husband reported her missing two hours later. Rangers searched the area, but there was no sign of Polly—no clothing, no tracks, no clues.

Deep Creek Trail is a popular hiking destination and was well within Polly’s ability as a hiker. So what happened? Did she become disoriented? Fall victim to foul play? And why did she suddenly speed ahead? Friends described Polly as cheerful that day, with no indication she planned to leave or was in distress.

Decades later, Polly Melton’s disappearance remains a mystery. But she wasn’t the only hiker to vanish in Great Smoky National Mountains Park.

Trenny Gibson, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (1976)

On October 8, 1976, 16-year-old Trenny Gibson joined her high school biology class on a field trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The group planned to explore Andrew’s Bald near Clingmans Dome, a popular destination known for its sweeping mountain views and dense forests. The day began uneventfully as students scattered along the trail to observe flora and fauna. But somewhere along the way, Trenny vanished without a trace.

Trenny had been hiking with classmates when she suddenly stepped off the trail. She seemed to be following something—or someone—into the woods. When classmates called out for her a few minutes later, there was no response. Teachers and students searched the area but found no sign of Trenny. By evening, the park rangers launched a full-scale search.

Despite exhaustive search efforts, the investigation into Trenny’s disappearance turned up few leads. There were no signs of a struggle, no footprints, and no evidence of foul play.

Trenny’s family and investigators were left with countless questions. Did she lose her way? Was she lured into the woods by someone she knew? Could she have encountered an animal? Theories range from abduction to a tragic accident, but no one knows why she disappeared in the woods.

Nearly five decades later, Trenny Gibson’s disappearance remains one of the most baffling cases in the park’s history.