In May 1996, two women—Julie Williams and Lollie Winans—set out on a backcountry camping trip in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. What began as a five-day escape into the wild became one of the most haunting crimes in National Park history. Before the tragedy, there was their story: two women who found love, freedom, and belonging in the wilderness. From their meeting at Woodswomen, a pioneering outdoor program for women, to their drive south from Vermont with their golden retriever Taj, Episode One retraces the final days of peace before everything changed. Featuring original music by Andrew Golden // Listen to “Shenandoah” here!

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.