We know that DC ULers aren’t always slogging through mud on the trail. Sometime they’re plowing through a great book.
March 8 is International Women’s Day, so we’d like to highlight some women writing about their transformational experiences in the wilderness. If you’ve read one of these or have another favorite, feel free to leave a comment on this post, Instagram, or Facebook.
H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald
British author Helen MacDonald explores her relationship with Mabel the goshawk while trying to accept the sudden loss of her father. MacDonald turns to T.H. White’s The Goshawk to explore methods of falconry and human-animal companionship. Compelling from the start, this book blends the best of nature writing and memoir.
Thru-Hiking will Break Your Heart: An Adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail by Carrot Quinn
Looking for an escape from modern life, Carrot Quinn took to the 2,660-mile Pacific Crest Trail, her first long-distance hike. While enduring challenges and finding lasting friendships, Quinn finds solace in the journey.
Tracks: A Woman’s Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback by Robyn Davidson
If there’s anything Australia is known for, it’s a plethora of deadly animals and a hostile Outback environment. Robyn Davidson shares her trek across Australia with four camels and a dog while enduring all sorts of mishaps and hardships. Along the way, she manages to find her true self.
Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube: Chasing Fear and Finding Home in the Great White North by Blair Braverman
Blair Braverman, though born in California, was inexplicably drawn to life in the cold and frozen north from a very young age. In this memoir, Braverman writes about her life with sled dogs, being a wilderness guide, and overcoming many of life’s challenges in a journey of self-discovery.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Looking to overcome trauma and grief, a young Strayed hits the Pacific Crest Trail in search of meaning. Wild is probably responsible for getting lots of people out on the trail to find themselves while dealing with life’s struggles. Strayed writes reflectively about long-ago her journey with self-love and compassion.
Woodswoman: Living Alone in the Adirondack Wilderness by Anne LaBastille
In 1964, Anne LaBastille left the city and her marriage to purchase 22 acres of wilderness in New York’s Adirondacks. In this first book in a series of four, she details the process of constructing her own log cabin while living in harmony with the land.
Don’t forget to share your favorites on our social media platforms. And if one of these books catches your fancy, and if you’re not too ultralight, maybe we’ll see you out on the trail with a book or e-book in your backpack.
