Before I became an author, I read books and shelved my favorites in my enormous collection of them in my home (we can’t ever move). I rarely took the time to share the ones I enjoyed most on this blog.
Now, I understand the importance of spreading the news of a good book far and wide. Unless you’re Cheryl Strayed or Bill Bryson, most outdoor authors choose to live a life with fewer luxuries to pursue a career they love. While the price tag of a book may lead you to believe otherwise, it’s rarely the case.
One of the best ways to support your favorite author, besides buying his or her book and telling your friends about it, is sharing a review or rating in places like Amazon or Goodreads. The small amount of effort on your part goes a loooong way in helping them get exposure to other readers who might enjoy their book. It’s a practice I’ve gotten into the habit of, and I hope you will too after reading this.
I hope you’ll also get into the practice of supporting your local independent bookstores. They are the lifeblood of books and care far more about authors than Amazon ever will. Websites like Bookshop support small bookstores (you can even choose which one your purchase supports), so it’s just as easy to help them and not even leave home.
But if you still insist on the convenience of Amazon, that’s okay, too. The most important thing is supporting the written word and the people who bravely share their stories with you.
The following list is some of my favorite outdoor-related books of 2021. If you’ve read any of them or read them in the future, take a few minutes to rate or review them. The five minutes you’ll spend doing it is a fraction of the benefit for an author. It’s the best trail magic you can ever give them!
Speaking of ratings and reviews and how much they help an author, here are links to my book, Chasing the Smokies Moon, for that very purpose: Amazon and Goodreads.
One final tip! Ordering directly from authors (if available) is the best way to put the most money in their pockets. Just think of it as paying it forward to them, so they can afford to create more books for you to read.
Alone in Wonderland
I’m a voracious podcast consumer, and Christine Reed, Alone in Wonderland’s author, was a guest on several podcasts I listened to in 2021. Upon learning we were both card-carrying members of the Lose My Mom Too Early to Cancer Club and that her book’s backdrop is the epic scenery of the Wonderland Trail (a trail I love), I suspected I’d enjoy her book. I did enjoy it—very much, in fact.
This book is so much more than a retelling of a thru hike. It’s also a story of a young woman navigating the dating scene through digital technology, all while carving out a less conventional life than societal norms expect after her mother’s premature death. Despite our generational gap, Christine reminds me of myself in my 20s. Yet she is more self aware and attuned to her feelings than I was at her age, figuring out things that I would take decades to understand.
Christine is vulnerable and courageous as she generously shares dark stories of her past. I often found myself putting the book down for a moment to reflect on the profound impact of her words. I read so many books that I often forget the details after a short while. That won’t be the case with this book, especially the last couple of pages. Which brings me to my next point—Christine is a gifted writer. Of all the books in this genre I read, her prose rises to the top tier.
Perhaps the most interesting revelation was reading this book through the lens of a mother versus a daughter. While we both lost our moms at young ages, I suspect I’m old enough to be Christine’s mom. There are universal tenets of dating and relationships across time and space, but this book provides more clarity with how that manifests in current times. If you are a mother of a daughter, I encourage you to give this a read. I also encourage it if you are a hiker, a woman, or anyone who simply enjoys a fantastic hiking memoir in which Mother Nature facilitates personal growth and healing.
You can purchase Alone in Wonderland on Christine Reed’s website.
Between Each Step: A Married Couple’s Thru Hike on New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail
Despite Americans never pronouncing New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail correctly (myself included), the idea of getting acquainted with Kiwi culture while “tramping” it intrigues many hikers. To my knowledge, Between Each Step is the only hiking memoir about this trail. Even if there are others, it’s hard to imagine they’d entertain me as much as Patrice Lavigne’s account.
She and her husband, Justin, thru hiked the entire 3000 kilometer (1900 mile) trail when it was relatively new. Patrice is a seasoned freelance writer and a fantastic storyteller. I loved learning terms like streaky bacon and metal roads. I also enjoyed reading about the dynamics of a husband and wife thru hike since it’s something I’ll probably do with my husband in a few years. It was refreshing to learn that it’s possible to be cut from an entirely different cloth from your spouse and still like each other by the end of a long walk.
I’m still mulling over a looming question after reading this book though: did it make me want to hike the Te Araroa more or less than before I read it? Patrice paints a vivid enough picture that I was a bit intimidated by some of the terrain they traversed. Yet, she also writes of breathtaking beauty and some of the most warm and welcoming people on the planet.
My grandparents were avid travelers and loved sharing slide shows with our family upon their return home (yep, we were that family). Interestingly, their photos from New Zealand are still vivid in my mind over four decades later. I love a grueling adventure that pushes me out of my comfort zone….and something about those photos must have resonated with me. Maybe I know my answer after all. But even if I never hike the Te Araroa, I thoroughly enjoyed living vicariously through the Patrice’s journey.
Patrice has a wonderful blog, The Wandering LaVignes, where you can order a signed copy of her book.
The Unlikely Thru Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey
A book about a brand new hiker tackling the Appalachian Trail whose background and lifestyle make it highly unlikely he’ll succeed—sign me up because it has all the makings of an entertaining read. I picked up on Derek Lugo’s chill metrosexual vibe within the first couple of pages; however, I admittedly wondered if this guy was gonna have what it takes to hike over 2,000 continuous miles. I’m not giving anything away when I tell you he accomplished his goal.
What he also succeeded in is recounting the tale of his adventure with charm, honesty, humor, and, as the book conveys, “a willfully can-do attitude.” And I’m completely convinced that no one has ever stayed as clean as Lugo did on a long trail. I’ve brought many an A.T. thru hiker into my home for the night to resupply and rejuvenate. Every one of them could benefit from modeling Lugo’s fastidious grooming practices. Perhaps an instructional book should be on his radar for that very topic!
Finally, as the mother of an Ethiopian-born son, Lugo’s story resonated with me on a more personal level. Diversity and inclusion are topics we still shouldn’t have to discuss, but the reality is that we do. This book gave me great hope that Wogene (my son) could hike the Appalachian Trail one day and not live in fear on the trail. We’ve come a long way with race relations, and we still have a long way to go. But this exceptional book reminded me that trails are great equalizers among hikers, in more ways than one.
Derick Lugo’s website is the best place to order his book and put the most money in his pocket. My order even came with a cool bookmark that matches the book.
Mud Rocks Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Heather “Anish” Anderson and her writing. Her first book, Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home, was a tremendous source of inspiration when I was contemplating the Smokies 900 FKT. I hung on every word she wrote, vicariously tapping into the mental and physical fortitude she unearthed to accomplish her audacious goal.
Mud, Rocks, Blazes picks up where Thirst left off, eventually chronicling Heather’s self-supported FKT of the Appalachian Trail. This book begins with the answers to questions readers likely pondered after reading Thirst. But unlike movie sequels that are often lacking compared to the first installment, Mud, Rocks, Blazes shines just as bright as its predecessor (many people think it’s even better, but I’ll always be more partial to Thirst since I have a personal connection to its message). Even if you follow Heather’s pursuits and accomplishments on social media, you will likely be surprised at some stories she shares in this book.
What I appreciate most about Heather’s larger-than-life accomplishments is her humility and willingness to risk failure. More than once she has taught me the value of reaching for a goal far beyond my comfort zone, even if it means I fail. Of course, Heather’s accomplishments have now placed her into a category few will ever know; however, her words continue to reinforce that we all start somewhere, and that somewhere should be the here and now.
Heather Anderson’s website is the best place to order a signed copy of either of her amazing books as well as other fun swag she sells.
The Twenty-Ninth Day: Surviving a Grizzly Attack in the Canadian Tundra
I bought this book for my teenage son, Aidan, but it sat collecting dust on his nightstand for nearly a year. He’d rather be outdoors living his own adventure than reading about someone else’s. I guess I shouldn’t complain. I was cleaning his room when I found it (which I will complain about) and read the first few pages to see if it captured my attention. It did, and it easily secured a spot on this list.
The Twenty-Ninth Day is a powerful coming-of-age story. Alex Messenger was 17 years old when he set out to canoe 700 miles in the remote Canadian wilderness with friends and an adult mentor. On the twenty-ninth day of the trip, he was attacked by a grizzly bear. Clearly, he survived to tell the tale, and what a gift he has for telling it.
The only thing I know about canoeing is from this crazy escapade of rescuing an abandoned one in the Smokies. So I suspected the story might bore me until the attack and aftermath. I also wondered if the book would make me more fearful for my kids on adventures they take apart from me, especially Aidan who is now eighteen and spreading his wings to fly further away by the day. On both counts, I was proven wrong. It made me want more adventures like this for my kids, despite the inherent risks. The story is a bold testament to the benefits of exposing youth to experiences outside of their comfort zone, especially if it puts them in the natural world sans a computer screen.
Alex’s writing style is a bit Heminway-esque to me. Not in a one-syllable kind of way, but in the uncluttered yet descriptive prose he uses to describe the setting, story and his emotions. Not to mention he’s just a cool, old soul kind of kid (now adult) who was wise beyond his years at the formative age when these events occurred.
Finally, as a search and rescue team member, this book held special interest for me in how the group handled Alex’s attack. I won’t give anything away, but I will say I wish everyone was as level-headed and prepared in the event of a true backcountry emergency. Yet, I still found myself questioning a few of their decisions. This would be a fantastic book to discuss and debate with my teammates and outdoor enthusiast friends.
Alex Messenger’s website is the best place to purchase his book and support him, and you’ll be treated to his amazing photography there, too!
Mountains to Sea Trail Across North Carolina: Walking a Thousand Miles Through Wildness, Culture and History
I live near the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) in Western North Carolina and hike sections of it regularly. It’s challenging find a good resource for the history of the MST or one that gave me a broad overview of what to expect as I hiked the various sections on it. The Mountains to Sea Trail Acorss North Carolina: Walking a Thousand Miles through Wildness, Culture and History fulfilled a unique niche.
If you are looking specifically for a mile-by-mile trail guide, this is not your book. Friends of the Mountains to Sea has publications that are better for that purpose. Also, if you’re looking specifically for a “trail memoir,” this book may also disappoint you. However, if a hybrid of these two types of books interests you, you will thoroughly enjoy it.
I love the unique approach Bernstein used for this book. She combines both facts and story, weaving a fascinating narrative of her hikes along the MST, as well as giving the reader enough information to plan for their own walks along the MST.
The book itself is also beautiful, with stunning full-color photo inserts enriching its text. There’s no better way to vicariously hike the MST than to have this book on your shelf.
Danny Bernstein’s website, Hiker to Hiker, is a fantastic resource for all things hiking, especially for trail reports and book reviews. I’m convinced she’s the Energizer Bunny in disguise, as she not only leads hikes regularly, but comes home and has the energy to write them all up thoughtfully as well as publish several books!
Journeys North: The Pacific Crest Trail
Trail angel extraordinaire, Barney “Scout” Mann, thru hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2007 and wrote one of the most unique trail memoirs I’ve ever read. He hiked it with “Frodo,” his wife and cohort in all things trail magic. Rather than give a day-by-day account of their journey, Scout treats his readers to a deep dive into the lives of other thru hikers. He writes in such a unique way that I would have sworn I was reading fiction if I didn’t know better.
It took me a few chapters to get into this book. My brain was prepared to go into auto pilot with the typical formula of thru hiking memoirs. But once my mind settled into the groove of this book’s style, I was all in. The personal stories of each hiker were fascinating and varied (and sometimes deeply troubling). Scout also did a great job of building suspense in certain parts of the book.
Ultimately, the most memorable part of the book was the intimate glimpse of Scout’s decades long marriage to Frodo. He could have easily withheld parts of their relationship and it would still be a great book. Instead, he chose to weave a painful part of their history into the narrative. Even the best relationships run the risk of weathering severe storms, but I suspect a relatively small percentage will emerge on the other side with as much clarity in their commitment to each other.
This book left me with more questions than answers, but it also left me craving a thru hike, if only to make friends with people as inspiring as Scout and Frodo.
Into the Mist
I stopped in a visitor center one afternoon after a solo hike in the Smokies to get my “fix” with a new book. At the entrance to the gift shop, an author, David Brill, sat behind a table with his book, Into the Mist: Tales of Death Disaster, Mishaps and Misdeeds, Misfortune and Mayhem in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We conversed, and I immediately liked David. It was clear he had a deep appreciation and respect for park rangers and search and rescue personnel. I purchased the book for my search and rescue team leader, Mike Street, as a gift. I also purchased one for myself after thumbing through the copy I gifted Mike.
This book is as much instructional as it is engaging, teaching readers what not to do in the Smokies if they want to live to see another day on the trails. While reading it, I jumped around between chapters, focusing on the chapter that caught my attention at that moment. I love when I’m able to do this with a nonfiction book, since I remember more when the subject holds my attention in that moment.
Not all the chapters are filled with gloom and doom. There are plenty of stories with favorable outcomes, balanced with the not-so-favorable tragedies. I especially liked the photos and newspaper clippings peppered throughout the book. It brought the people and places to life while creating a solid imprint of them in my memory bank.
This is one of the most popular books in the Smokies visitor centers, and it’s easy to see why. I ultimately hope that it inspires readers to make solid choices in the backcountry, to avoid becoming the topic of a chapter in the second volume of Into the Mist.
Brill doesn’t sell the book directly, but Great Smoky Mountains Association sells it in the park and on their website. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Smokies too, so it’s a great buy for many reasons.
2000 Miles Together
Love ’em or not, the Crawford family made quite the splash in the hiking community during their Appalachian Trail thru hike in 2018. They chronicled their journey on a YouTube channel, and my husband and I were totally hooked.
If you’re not familiar with them, they are a family of eight (two parents, six kids) who lead a fairly unconventional lifestyle. I’ll focus on the book, but you should definitely check out their social media accounts and YouTube Channel. Some of their values and choices make for great talking points on a long hike with a friend.
This book is a page turner. It will probably keep you up late at night, especially if you didn’t follow their vlog, to learn what unfolds next. Even my sister, who isn’t an avid hiker and doesn’t typically enjoy books in this genre, enjoyed it.
I often wish I had the gumption to parent like Ben and Kami did during this hike. Now that my kids are all teenagers and would rather have their phones taken away versus considering a family thru hike, I often feel like I failed them by taking them on so many hikes when they were younger. The Crawford’s give me hope that I served them well, even if I eventually caved to their protests and hardly ever ask them to hike with me now.
They don’t sugarcoat the family thru hiking experience, which only enhances the book. Their candid thoughts and perspectives made it an especially engaging read. Without a doubt, they served their kids well in this endeavor and they still appear to like each other (even more so, it seems) from the shared experience.
In a world of helicopter parenting and many parents never wanting their kids to experience discomfort, this was a refreshing account of parents who let loose of the proverbial reins and had the courage to “fight for together” in a less traditional way.
Side note: As a search and rescue team member who is exposed to a heck of a lot of ways well-intentioned plans can take a really bad turn in the Smokies, I didn’t agree with every choice the Crawford family made when the stakes were high with weather. You’ll probably recognize the situation I’m referring to if you read the book. Ben Crawford (the book’s author and father of the family) defends his choice. But in my opinion, it was still too risky. They got lucky, but many do not in similar situations and it costs them their lives. Regardless, I loved this book and admire and respect the courage and conviction of this family.
You can order the book directly from the Crawford’s website, Fight For Together.
Walking Toward Peace: Veterans Healing on America’s Trails
If Cindy Ross’ name sounds familiar to you, it may be from this post I published which details the challenges her family is facing. I encourage you to give it a read if you’d like to learn more about her books (and my favorite of all the books she has written).
Cindy’s most recent book, Walking Toward Freedom, is arguably the most important one she’s written. It shares the stories of veterans battling PTSD stemming from the horrors they faced serving our country. As a whole, our country has failed the men and woman who are willing to die to uphold the inherent freedoms from which we all benefit. It is times like these that Cindy’s words are perhaps the most powerful in my heart. She may not have served in the armed forces, but she certainly understands the plight of many veterans when they return home.
Cindy and her husband, Todd, have spent decades going above and beyond for people in need, especially veterans who are woefully underserved when faced with life-threatening emotional wounds. Cindy even started a nonprofit, Riverhouse PA, tailored to this cause. If you’re familiar with Tom Gathman, better known as The Real Hiking Viking, Cindy and Todd befriended him before his A.T. thru hike. There’s a chapter in Walking Toward Peace dedicated to Tom’s inspiring story.
This not a page-tuner type read. I had to pace myself because the content is often disturbing; however, the theme of the book is refreshing and uplifting. There’s no better testament to how the meditative act of walking and simply spending outdoors has benefitted the most wounded of veterans. It’s the type of book you may not enjoy so much as learn from and understand the needs of others. And that’s never a bad thing.
Cindy’s books can be found in the following places: