Iranian authorities captured Shane Bauer, 27, his girlfriend, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, Bauer's former housemate from the University of California at Berkeley, on July 31 last year while the Americans were hiking in the Zagros Mountains on the border of Iraq and Iran. Their families and friends still await their return from . No trial date has been set, and the hikers have been denied contact with their lawyer.
Joshua Hammer traced the hikers' footsteps for ϳԹ. to check out his story on how he believes they got into this situation, and what it will take to get them out. for the New York Times blog with interviews of the hikers' family members. Visit for more information.
–Erin Beresini