★★★★★ 5
Merits the Five-Star Ratings
Format: Paperback
Barney “Scout” Mann and his wife “Frodo” host many prospective Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers, at their home, and shuttle them to the trail to start their trek. Scout is a Triple Crowner having hiked the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide and Appalachian Trails and has been very active as a volunteer, serving as a board member and in various capacities for several trail organizations. This eminence translates into a great number of five-star reviews: yet, this account merits them.
Journeys North is about the author’s PCT thru-hike in 2005. It predates “Wild” and the resultant explosion in the trail’s popularity. The book focuses on the Mann’s and several hikers, who move north, in their proximity. There is considerable background and detail given about these characters, which enhances the readers appreciation of their trip. This balances with sufficient description about the trail and the hike making Journeys North a captivating and unique read among trail narratives. In the final chapters, the trekkers are buffeted and challenged by early season blizzards. Forced out of the snowbound high mountains, Frodo, Scout and their group improvise a low land route to complete their walk.
With numerous of characters, the bouncing around and referencing of prior information can be confusing to the reader. There’s some heartwarming tales. The author describes an anonymous benefactor who provides two out-of-funds youngsters a considerable amount of money allowing them to continue towards Canada. The reader doesn’t learn whether the pair completes their journey; but that was a truly generous act, Barney.
Journeys North transcends the trail in its portrayal of the human condition and the adversity and challenges that we confront in life. The book validates the camaraderie and caring that develops among hikers and the positive effect the PCT can have on changing lives. Well done.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2020
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