Five years after hiking the John Muir Trail solo, I finally finished my book! I loved reminiscing on such an incredible trail and the wild adventure that it was! I’ve listed the book description below!
“You’re hiking how far solo?” “How are you going to hike the entire John Muir Trail when you’ve never even been backpacking before?”
These were the two most common questions that accompanied baffled looks from Christy’s corporate coworkers when she mentioned her plans. Legitimate questions Christy had pondered herself. Yet, she couldn’t fully express the pull to hike more than 220 miles in the California High Sierra Mountains. She only knew that her whole being told her that she needed to. After six months of research, reading books, watching documentaries, and training hikes, Christy began walking southbound on the world-famous trail.
Throughout her wild journey, Christy encountered freezing temperatures, pelting hail storms, and losing her way, but found trail family, incredible views, and experiences that would change her life forever. Hiking up and over ten different mountain passes gave Christy a lot of time to think about why her nine-year marriage was falling apart, gave her the chance to truly embody her individualism, time to make new friends, and the strength she would need on and off the trail. Her life could never again be the same.
This is one woman’s account of the three weeks she spent on the iconic trail.
For a sneak peek into the book, here’s an excerpt from the back cover:
Christy committed to meeting her friend, Tori, at Kearsarge Pass Trail on day 18 of her 22-day solo trek on the John Muir Trail. There was no way to communicate, and she was determined to make it in time, even if it meant hiking 75 miles in five days at high elevation, climbing over two mountain passes in a single day, and starting to hike one of the trail’s most challenging passes at 4:00 pm.
“I continued hiking and felt like crying. I was in a ton of pain, almost out of water, and the peak looked like it touched the sky. I had no choice – I had to continue. There wasn’t anywhere to camp, even if I wanted to. That last 500 feet involved about 40 zigzagging rock switchbacks. The sun was starting to set, and I thought I might pass out on the trail. It became sharp, jagged rocks on the narrow path that was hard to navigate.
I did my best to remember all of those quotes that friends sent me in their letters. They were so proud of me. I was a beast. I was brave. I could do anything through Christ who strengthens me. Right?
They wanted to hear all about my adventure. I couldn’t tell them how I stopped on the pass – how I gave up just a few miles from Tori. I pushed through the pain and forced myself to keep lifting my legs. Each step was a ton of effort, and I focused on one step up at a time.
Finally, at 6:25 pm, I made it to the top at 11,926 feet! I was the only person at the peak, and the sun was disappearing. I took a selfie, but this time I was screaming in it. I was angry and tired, and it was going to show.”
The book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at local bookstores! You can find it worldwide by going to the Amazon account for your country.
Thank you so much to everyone who purchased it when it was available for pre-sale! It hit the #1 New Release for Solo Travel Guides on Amazon! I can’t wait to see what you think!
11 Responses
I hiked the JMT back in the mid-90s and am curious about your book. It wasn’t as life changing as hiking the AT, which I did 7 years earlier, but I loved the view of the trail and how much of it your above treelike.
https://fromarockyhillside.com
Really good book, Christy. It is so human for doing such a super-human activity.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to read it! I also appreciate your review and sharing the book. ☺️
Christy, this is such a wonderfully inspirational book.
Congratulations on the hike, your current life and publishing the book.
Blessings~
Robbie
Thank you so much! I love hearing that the book has been inspirational! 😊
You are very welcome!
Blessings~😊
Congratulations! 😀
Thank you!
I’m so proud for you!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it!
You’re so welcome!