“Driving Home” by Jonathan Raban

Reading “Driving Home,” it was impossible to not think of what originally attracted me to the Pacific Northwest. Like countless others who arrived before me and all those who followed in the well-worn path taken by us, I arrived at this collection of states hanging in the untamed left-hand corner of the United States with a mission of being closer to nature and defining life on my own terms. Raban’s book forced to question that migration and what it means to make a place home.

“Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer

“Leave No Trace” should be the bedrock of every hiker’s time in the wild. Simply, it means that no one and nothing should ever know you were there. Every item of food, every item of gear, and everything you brought with you should leave with you. This allows the delicate balance between nature and man to stay intact. To read, “Into Thin Air,” is to read a story of men and women hellbent on spoiling nature in pursuit of standing on the highest point in the world. A mountainside littered with human waste, oxygen tanks, and bodies of the fallen fills almost every inch of every page. It is enough to frustrate and infuriate the most passive of nature loves.

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“Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart” by Carrot Quinn

“Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart” by Carrot Quinn reads like a turn by turn description of the Pacific Crest Trail. So much so, that at one point in the middle of the book I was fearful of knowing too much. Now, I know reading about a trail is much different than experiencing it first-hand. There are still plenty of surprises waiting for me between Mexico and Canada, but the last year has been about getting ready not spoiling the journey. With that said, moving forward I am going to spend a little less time reading and watching stories about the trail. I am confident in what I know, and I am ready for what I don’t to force me into earnest adaptation.

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“Walking the Amazon” by Ed Stafford

There are major differences between preparing to hike the entire length of the Amazon River from Peru to Brazil and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. When Ed Stafford decided to undertake the pioneering journey of walking the Amazon River, costs, guides, customs, terrain, safety, length of the journey and much more had to be taken into account. This doesn’t mean there aren’t similarities between the two and it all comes down to the very act of preparation. Financially situating yourself, physically finding a comfort zone, struggles with food and water, and mentally finding a sweet spot are all steps that must be taken no matter if the journey lasts six months or 2 years.

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“Tracks” by Robyn Davidson

A hike of 2,650 miles doesn’t require a purpose. One could simply love the thought of hiking, competing against yourself to accomplish something unthinkable, and working with nature to reach an ultimate goal. This is all that is truly required. For me, the pull of something bigger than myself is required. This isn’t simply just a hike. It is a test. Since the day I solidified my decision to undertake this journey, it has been about financially planning, research, finding the right gear, getting into shape, and preparing my life for a 6-month break. It is also a test of something deeper; manhood, spirituality, simplicity, and the very essence of nature itself.

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Be good to each other,

Nathan

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