I'm curious to read more about the environmental changes already taking place at that time. I really can't wait to go to Alaska even more than I did before.
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Jan 27, Krista rated it liked it Shelves: I enjoyed the book, but it felt really rushed. I was hoping for a more detailed look at the trip- what a typical day looks like, what they packed, pictures of their custom gear, why they were using custom gear, etc. I liked reading about areas that are near where I live, but I have never been to. Jun 04, Maria Benner rated it liked it.
This book has great potential, it documents an epic journey, but leaves out a lot of details. Jan 08, Caitlin rated it it was amazing. I just finished reading this book for the second time. It's a great book. Mar 11, Judy Detzel rated it it was amazing. This was an amazing journey, great read. I found this book as I was browsing the Kindle store, and I thought it sounded interesting.
They've traveled to and through Juneau several times, and it's actually surprising that I haven't met them yet. As I read through their journey, I was able to talk to my boss about his perspective on their year-long trip. He is one of the "hosts" Erin and Hig mention by name in the book. Having that personal I found this book as I was browsing the Kindle store, and I thought it sounded interesting.
Having that personal connection was a neat little plus. I think Erin's writing gets better as the book goes on. I had a hard time sticking with the story at the beginning, and maybe that had more to do with the fact that I'm less connected to the BC coast and more interested in the Alaska parts of the journey. Overall, a quick and memorable read.
Now I hope to meet Erin and Hig someday! Feb 08, Natasha rated it really liked it. It featured their yurt in Soldovia, Alaska. The Article was titled "Broadband, Yes. It was a fun article and mentioned the book Erin just wrote about their 4, mile trek from Seattle to Alaska. It is an incredible adventure. I can't imagine walking for a year through the winter! They did it though and plan on taking more journeys like it.
The hard part to read was the destruction of the environment everywhere they went. Logging and mining have destroyed the most pristine and remote places. Sep 03, Owen Curtsinger rated it liked it. This book is among many to represent a new kind of "outdoor adventure" writing. For Mckittrick, it's not about man versus the extreme conditions that nature heaps upon us. It's about a personal exploration and appreciation for lesser-known and subsequently greater-risk places that many important and extraordinary people call home.
Her writing is observant and informative, and breathes new life into the gender-biased and overplayed "man vs wild" stories that saturate this genre. At some points This book is among many to represent a new kind of "outdoor adventure" writing. At some points I found that the narrative was choppy and left me wanting more, but if McKittrick included more journal writings to flesh out the choppiness, my complaint might be just the opposite.
May 12, Kathy rated it really liked it. I've read a lot of books about people hiking, exploring and traveling in Alaska but never a book where a couple walked, skied and boated miles from Seattle to Unimak Island, the first island in the Aleutian chain. I completely admire their endurance and spirit - I don't think too many couples could do this. This book is very well written, not only covering their adventures and the stupendous scenery but explores what is happening in various ecosystems and communities along the way.
A Long Trek Home by Erin McKittrick – Author Interview
Lastly, I've read a lot of books about people hiking, exploring and traveling in Alaska but never a book where a couple walked, skied and boated miles from Seattle to Unimak Island, the first island in the Aleutian chain. Apr 02, Deb rated it did not like it. I seriously disliked this book. I disliked everything about it beginning with the tiny difficult to read font that was chosen to the way the author rambled on in such extreme detail of things that I thought I would die of boredom.
After such details I longed desperately for a picture of the place or plant or whatever she was trying to describe but the book has no pictures of anything except the blurry undecipherable picture at the beginning of each chapter. Apparently neither she nor her Yikes! Apparently neither she nor her husband was any good with a camera. I could not finish the book and stopped about mid-way. Guess I must have missed something as others have thoroughly enjoyed it. Sep 16, Tina rated it liked it Shelves: I love reading books about women who step out of societies box and push themselves to explore and discover.
This book borders on a diary vs. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it was more of the personal journey emotionally than knowing facts about the areas, but that's just my personal taste. I also had seen a Banff film fest version of this book, so I already knew what was going to happen - which made me a bit lax I love reading books about women who step out of societies box and push themselves to explore and discover. I also had seen a Banff film fest version of this book, so I already knew what was going to happen - which made me a bit lax on finishing the book in a timely manner.
I'm keeping the book.
I'm going to read it again this winter. Jun 18, Annaliese rated it really liked it. I don't live in the woods but I have always loved to do so vicariously. I read most of this while camping in cold damp weather but reading the winter section gave me a whole new appreciation of what two special humans can huddle through and appreciate. A great book to read when your life is full of change because it serves as a potent reminder of how little we actually need physically to get by, and how renewing time spent in natural settings can be.
I follow their blog at groundtruthtrekkin I don't live in the woods but I have always loved to do so vicariously. I follow their blog at groundtruthtrekking. Dec 12, Yvonne Leutwyler rated it really liked it. Erin tells the story of a fantastic journey without the fluff usually encountered in similar adventure books.
She is humble without being annoying, in awe but not exaggerating, critical without offense, persevering without bragging, and funny in subtle ways. Most of all, she and Hig are two tough cookies. I have utmost respect for their traveling the backcountry of Alaska by non-motorized means. I wished there were more pictures in the book, but I discovered lots of photos and more on their blog Erin tells the story of a fantastic journey without the fluff usually encountered in similar adventure books. I wished there were more pictures in the book, but I discovered lots of photos and more on their blog, groundtruthtrekking.
Jul 23, Maria rated it it was ok. However, there is a lot less heart in the book than the film. What I loved about the documentary was the human story.
A Long Trek Home: 4, Miles by Boot, Raft and Ski by Erin Mckittrick
This book focuses more on ecological issues and gorgeous, detailed descriptions of the landscape. It was well-written and compelling enough to fi My partner and I are huge fans of the documentary made about this year-long trekking adventure "Journey on the Wild Coast" http: It was well-written and compelling enough to finish, but I felt that a huge chunk of what I was looking for was missing. Apr 14, Jeffrey rated it liked it Shelves: While the trip fascinated me, the journal was just OK. I am not sure why I didn't totally love it, but I really didn't.
It didn't fall into the whole introspective journal, thankfully, but it wasn't the most interesting travel journal either. I didn't really ever laugh, maybe that was it. I like to laugh when I read travel journals. There were amusing parts, but nothing that made me laugh. It was very scientifically stated and described, probably because the author is a scientist.
I would still r While the trip fascinated me, the journal was just OK. I would still recommend people to read it. It is a fascinating and educational read. Jan 02, Betsy rated it really liked it. I enjoyed reading this book of bold adventure, which was really a tale of simply moving and living day to day through the land and over the water for thousands of miles. As the author said, they faced many difficulties, but never all at one time. And many days were just spent quietly traveling and surviving. My feet hurt and my back ached reading about their journey, but I also saw the beauty and wonder of the wild areas they traveled through.
I wish the photos in the book were better quality, b I enjoyed reading this book of bold adventure, which was really a tale of simply moving and living day to day through the land and over the water for thousands of miles. I wish the photos in the book were better quality, but that was my only complaint. The journey McKittrick and her husband take from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands, all without motors, is fascinating.
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While her narration style is pretty cut and dry, simply reporting what they did and saw without flourishes, I appreciated that she didn't stretch each hardship into pages of hard to follow details that many nature adventure writers do. I learned some about the sad state of Canadian forestry politics, and the Alaskan coastline. Not the most entertaining book I've read lately, bu The journey McKittrick and her husband take from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands, all without motors, is fascinating.
Not the most entertaining book I've read lately, but somewhat interesting and definitely inspiring. Feb 01, Henry rated it really liked it. I like the book but I feel it had trouble deciding what it should be. While it has many pretty descriptions throughout the book, the rarely devote any sizable entry to a specific location. One of the common themes throughout is how natural resource harvesting impacts the area, but likewise these are mentioned largely in passing. At times it was also hard to get a sense of the passage of time.
Even with these drawbacks, I I like the book but I feel it had trouble deciding what it should be. Buy it using the buttons on the right, find it on Amazon , or read it on the Kindle. In June , Erin McKittrick and her husband, Hig, left Seattle for the Aleutian Islands, traveling solely by human power through some of the most rugged terrain in the world. This is the story of their unprecedented trek along the northwest coast and their encounters with pelting rains, ferocious winds, blizzards, and bears, as well as with the tiny communities that dot this wild region.
An epic wilderness adventure, their journey is also one of learning and discovery. Erin and Hig set out with a desire to better understand the interplay between human communities, ecosystems, and natural resources along their route. They pass through clear cuts, mining areas, and streams with declining wild salmon populations. By taking each mile step by step, they intimately explore the coastal regions of Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. By hiking, cross-country skiing, and packrafting, they see the wilderness in its larger context and gain a unique, on-the-ground perspective.
Whether discussing politics with off-the-grid back-to-the-landers, spooking a grizzly from the underbursh, repairing gear with dental floss, or catching a still-warm pizza falling from the sky, Erin and Hig experience a rich and varied coast, a world facing destructive change, but with hope for a sustainable future.
- Enchanted Afternoon (Mills & Boon M&B) (The Calhoun Chronicles, Book 4).
- A Long Trek Home by Erin McKittrick - Author Interview - Mountain Mom and Tots?
- A Long Trek Home: 4,000 Miles by Boot, Raft, and Ski;
- A Long Trek Home: 4, Miles by Boot, Raft, and Ski.
- A Long Trek Home: 4,000 Miles by Boot, Raft and Ski?
View a slideshow of photos from the book or see a more extensive set of photos from the trip. Read excerpts from the beginning of chapter 8 Into the Storms and from our ski through the Chuitna Coal prospect in chapter