★★★★★ 5
Walking from Mexico to Canada with a great cast of characters
Format: Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Journeys North. The story is about the Pacific Crest Trail and the people who hike it (thru-hikers) attempting to walk from Mexico to Canada. The author brings the trail to life across the story, but what really stands out is the story of the characters. You find yourself rooting for them as they encounter all kinds of challenges, and you get to know them through their backstory and past experiences that are shared. People attempt a thru-hike for many different reasons, and the story is enriched by their personal stories and histories that they carry with them each step of the way. Even their “trail names” had stories that often highlighted something about the characters themselves. One of the unique things about the book is the Pacific Crest Trail itself, as the author’s descriptions allow you to imagine what it looked like and felt like (including the aches, pains, and injuries along the way). The trail is ever present across this story of the people who walked it, bring them together, and then pulling them away from one other, sometimes for weeks or even months. The trail and mother nature create for an everchanging backdrop as the characters navigate their way north. I am not a thru-hiker and I doubt I would ever attempt to walk from Mexico to Canada, but I enjoyed tagging along on the adventure of Scout, Frodo, Blazer, Dalton, Tony, Nadine and many others whose lives intersected over the course of many miles. I found myself having a hard time putting the book down, particularly as the hikers neared the Canadian border. If you are looking for an armchair adventure along the PCT, or wondered what it would be like to tackle a thru-hike of a long trail, or are curious about the people who undertake such a challenge, you will enjoy Journeys North! I would imagine that if you are a PCT hiker you would find the book even more meaningful.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2020