The Long Trail Past White Rock Mountain - Paperback

A simple family hike into the Ozarks becomes a fight for survival when the wilderness conceals more than just beauty.

Daniel McIntosh wants nothing more than a few days of quiet detachment. Taking his two teenage sons, Caleb and Benji, along with his partner, Jake, deep into the lush backcountry of the Ozark Highlands Trail, the trip promises crisp mountain air, hidden waterfalls, and a chance to recharge far from the demands of everyday life.

At first, the trek is everything they hoped for-until they begin encountering a group of four rough, enigmatic young hikers along the trail. Led by the charismatic yet unsettling Justin, the men seem harmless enough, if a bit out of place. But as the miles accumulate and the landscape grows increasingly remote past White Rock Mountain, a accidental telephoto photograph taken by thirteen-year-old Benji reveals a horrifying truth hidden in a deep ravine: an active, large-scale illegal narcotics operation guarded by ruthless operators.

Suddenly, the easy rhythm of the trail dissolves into a nerve-wracking game of cat and mouse.

When Justin turns his dark, predatory focus directly onto Daniel, using subtle psychological intimidation and stalking to unravel the family, Daniel and Jake must rely on Caleb's sharp navigation skills to guide them off-grid. Chased through untamed terrain, across treacherous, swollen creeks, and over steep sandstone ridges, the family is forced to pull together like never before.

Gripping, suspenseful, and emotionally grounded, The Long Trail is a chilling wilderness thriller about the resilience of family, the courage of growing young men, and the fierce bonds that hold us together when facing absolute dark.