The Trail

by Ethan Gallogly, Jeremy Ashcroft (Illustrator)

Overview

A Transformative Journey on the John Muir Trail

In the wake of his father's death and recently fired from his job, Gil agrees to accompany his father's best friend Syd on a monthlong hike on the John Muir Trail. There's just one problem: Gil hates camping and is woefully unprepared for the rigors of the 200-mile journey. Moreover, he learns Syd may not survive the hike.

Set authentically in the High Sierra and fused with insightful accounts of history and ecology, The Trail illustrates how wilderness can serve as our greatest guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781737419228
Publisher:	Sierra Nevada Press
Publication date:	11/01/2021
Pages:	366
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Ethan Gallogly, PhD has been a leader in the Sierra Club, the Cal Hiking and Outdoors Society (CHAOS) at UC Berkeley, and the Outdoors Club of Southern California. His boots have covered countless miles, including the John Muir Trail, the High Sierra Trail, the Oregon Section of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail, and the Theodore Solomons Trail. He was a reviewer for the Wilderness Press guides: Sierra North, Sierra South, and Yosemite National Park and has read nearly every book on the history of the Sierra Nevada.

Maps & Illustrations: Jeremy Ashcroft is an illustrator who specializes in mountains and wild places. He works freelance as an editorial illustrator and has produced content for most UK-based publishers and newspapers. Currently he is working on two art books featuring the US 14ers and the John Muir Trail. https://www.etsy.com/shop/JeremyAshcroftMaps

Cover Design: Faith Rumm, a former interpretive and wilderness ranger, creates fine art that celebrates the beauty and power of the High Sierra. Based in Mariposa near Yosemite at RummStudio Interpretive Art and Design www.rummstudio.com, she has been creating custom displays for parks and protected areas for over 20 years.

Editorial Reviews

2021-10-08
A young man overcomes grief as he backpacks one of North America’s most arduous trails in a novel that celebrates nature and companionship.

When Gil’s mother asks him to join his father’s old friend Syd and hike the John Muir Trail—220 miles across the top of the Sierra Nevada mountains—Gil is less than thrilled. His mother thinks that the hike will help Gil get his life back on track, but he thinks he’s doing just fine watching kung fu movies, casually hooking up with women, and drinking to excess. In addition, Gil doesn’t want to be responsible for Syd, who’s dying of leukemia; indeed, Gil is convinced that the older man won’t be able to complete the hike. However, Gil is curious to learn more about his father, who passed away a decade ago, so he goes on the trip, ready to cut it short if necessary. So begins a story of two men, bonded by loss, who undertake one of America’s most challenging and beautiful hikes. The more time they spend on the trail, the more they develop a companionable rhythm. Initially miserable, Gil slowly learns to appreciate the nature around him, the community of fellow backpackers, and Syd himself, who’s full of wisdom and tales of how the John Muir Trail came to be. In his debut novel, Gallogly deftly mixes a history of people who helped to preserve the American wilderness with a portrayal of backpacking culture, all while unraveling a realistic story of a young man caught in a cycle of grieving and loss. Although the text is didactic at times, the author shines in his descriptions of the natural world as well as in his methodical portrayal of Gil and Syd’s blossoming relationship. The transformative power of nature is a palpable force that drives the narrative, which is at its best when it focuses on how outdoor living can foster human connection.

A subtle and vivid tale of finding peace in the great outdoors.

Kirkus Reviews