A Long Trek Home: 4,000 Miles by Boot, Raft and Ski

This is an excellent first book. Obviously it's the story of the author's journey from Seattle to the Aleutians, accompanied by fabulous photographs (I wished for more of those, as I read, as well as a detailed gear and food list). But it's also a story about what they learn from the landscape and the people they encounter on the trip, so it's reflective as well as practical. Finally, as other reviewers have mentioned, it chronicles Hig and Erin's partnership after 10 years of exploring together. It's kind of like the newlywed version of _Rowing to Latitude_, another favorite book. Erin's writing is engaging and I'm sure her next book will continue the nuanced analysis of the Alaska she now calls home.

I started reading this book on the way home from the bookstore on the subway. It was by accident, I didn't want to start another book as I was already into two others. However, once I started it I couldn't set it down. Each page was filled with adventure as well as insight into the beautiful landscape and harsh climate of the British Columbia and Alaskan coast. The author tells the story of their yearlong rafting, skiing and hiking journey in a smooth and natural flow. As a reader I was continually intrigued by her vivid descriptions of their natural surroundings combined with the informed musings of a trained biologist (Erin) and geologist (Hig). Along with masterfully recounted tales of adventure the reader also gets a clearer sense of the ecological challenges facing this part of the world. I would recommend this book to anyone and look forward to future books by the author.

I loved this book. The vivid and passionate descriptions of the land and weather they trekked through made me both feel I was "there", but very glad that I wasn't at the same time... Their deep love for the environment is obvious and the ability to view even the harshest conditions as beautiful and a wonderful experience they were privileged to be part of is very powerful. You never get the sense that they were motivated by "look at me, aren't I a brave and daring person" but that they truly were on a journey of discovery both personal and environmental. Much of the area they "ground-truthed" is off the radar even for most environmentalists and I found those descriptions fascinating. The personal perspective is also a key part of the narrative, skillfully interwoven with the descriptions of nature and the journey itself. As they deal with all the trials and tribulations of the trek together as a couple they increasingly discover that not only is the nature and environmental aspect of the journey compelling, but so is the human aspect, reflected in all the people they encounter along the way in both tiny villages and cities.

A Long Trek Home is not your typical trekking narrative. Too many travel stories end up reading the same. Woke up, walked, dealt with this or that, saw this or that, met this person(s), ate dinner, went to bed. Next day, more of the same. Instead, A Long Trek Home reads like a series of wilderness vignettes, each a picture or episode standing on its own and yet also woven together to form a coherent story of this incredible journey by two resourceful and intrepid travelers. Wonderfully written, A Long Trek Home is destined to become an adventure travel classic. My only complaint was the book was too short, but if one is forced to error on too short or too long, it is always better to leave the reader wishing for more.

This little book tells a big story of two trekkers' incredible journey a long the coasts of British Columbia and Alaska. I read a lot non-fiction wilderness adventure and find this book to be among the best I've ever head in this genre. The adventure is compelling enough, and the author's insight into the environmental issues of our time adds a contemporary perspective. But the part I like the most about the book, is the description of Erin and Hig's relationship with each other and with the people they encounter along the way. I've hiked, skied, and paddled a small fraction of this coast with my wife. Erin captures the wonder, fun, adventure, frustration, anxiety, and love that a couple experiences as they travel together, depending on each other to survive. This is why I think their story will endure.