A Thru-Hiker's Heart, Tales of the Pacific Crest Trail [Paperback]

Ray Echols (Author, Illustrator), Alice Tulloch (Editor), color photographs (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

The Pacific Crest Trail connects the mountain tops that run 2,650-miles from Mexico to Canada at the edge of a continent. A Thru-Hiker's Heart tells the tales of the five month trip that some consider more challenging and life-changing than climbing Mount Everest. But this is not the typical book about hiking--miles, bugs and blisters. In a vivid and insightful voice, Ray Echols tell us the stories of encounters with hikers and town folk, and encounters with the solitude of the soul. Here are not only rattlesnakes, mountain lions and lightning strikes, but exhilaration and trail magic. In the eyes of other hikers and everday people along the trail, Ray glimpses our human courage and kindness. These are the reasons we follow our dreams to heights we never imagined.

Editorial Reviews

Review

At turns humorous and philosophical, 'No Way' Ray's account of his journey on the PCT is peppered with anecdotes of the natural and human history surrounding this magnificent trail. Ray's on trail musings offer insight into the mind of a solo thru-hiker, and a glimpse at the essence of the trail that has transfixed so many people. --Liz Bergeron, Executive Director, Pacific Crest Trail Association

Whimsical, mystical, educational, introspective and at times laugh out loud funny, 'No Way' Ray's A Thru-Hiker's Heart is a great read for anyone who loves the outdoors in general and long-distance hiking in particular. Highly recommended. --Scott Herriot, Director of Walk, Still Walking and Even More Walking documentaries

About the Author

In May 2006, long-distance hiker, 'No Way' Ray Echols lost his life in an accidental fall while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. He had 50 year's experience in mountains all over the world. In the previous year, he had completed the 2,650-mile trail from Mexico to Canada, and was hiking it again.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Tuolumne Press (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981472206
• ISBN-13: 978-0981472201
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Didn't want it to end!, July 6, 2009

By 

Susan Alcorn "Backpack45" - author of ... - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Thru-Hiker's Heart, Tales of the Pacific Crest Trail (Paperback)

I was captivated by "A Thru-Hiker's Heart" from start to finish. It was one of those books that you don't want to end. As a long-distance hiker of the Pacific Crest Trail, I enjoyed revisiting the places I've been. And because I love the trail community -- the other hikers, the "trail angels" who help us, and the townspeople we meet when we step off the trail -- it was fun to read "No Way Ray's" experiences with those he met.

"A Thru-Hiker's Heart" is also intriguing because Ray has combined his stories of his PCT hikes with background information about the places through which the trail passes. For example, although I knew that hikers had been killed by lightning while inside the hut atop Mt. Whitney (although signs warn not to huddle there), I had no idea that the idea for the hut was conceived after someone was struck and killed by a lightning strike in 1904.

But most of all I loved the book because of Ray's openness and spirit. He tells it like it is -- some days are grueling, some people are annoying, but above all we know that he loves being on the trail. I highly recommend "A Thru-Hiker's Heart" and am thankful that his wife, Alice Tulloch, brought Ray's stories to us after his unfortunate death from a fall while hiking our beloved PCT.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sadly Ray Echols has died on the trail he loved, January 4, 2011

By 

Mark Bennett (Bellingham, WA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Thru-Hiker's Heart, Tales of the Pacific Crest Trail (Paperback)

From the Arrowhead Courier News Jan 4 2011

Hiker Killed On Pacific Crest Trail

By Michael P. Neufeld

At 6:09 a.m. last Monday, Ray Echols and his wife, Alice, began hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail behind Lake Arrowhead.

Three hours later, Wendell Ray Echols apparently slipped and fell to his death down a 200-foot embankment. His body had to be airlifted to the airfield at The Lost Ranch (formerly Squints Ranch) by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department helicopter.

The Mendocino couple were experienced hikers and were crossing sections of the San Bernardino National Forest on the scenic trail that runs from Mexico to Canada, zigzagging through California, Oregon and Washington.

Alice Echols told deputies Miguel Placencia and Gregg Carpenter she was hiking about 20 yards behind her husband when he went around a corner and disappeared.

"I called him on his cell phone," Mrs. Echols stated, "and I heard it ring about 15 feet down the steep mountainside. My husband was nowhere to be seen."

A few minutes after Echols disappeared, Terry Thompson from San Diego came down the trail with a hiker partner and heard Mrs. Echols' calls for assistance.

"She had left her backpack on the trail with a note, and she was attempting to go down the slope to try and locate her husband," Thompson explained. "She made motions of distress so I immediately summoned help on my satellite telephone and deputies were dispatched to the scene.

"A friend and I assisted her back to the trail and then took another route down the hillside and discovered Mr. Echols' lifeless body at the bottom of the canyon. We brought Mrs. Echols down to her husband and waited until the Sheriff's helicopter arrived with a physician, who certified the death.

"They were both excellent hikers and this accident is very surprising," Thompson added.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and down-to-earth, April 10, 2009

By 

Mountain Moon "Mountain Moon" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Thru-Hiker's Heart, Tales of the Pacific Crest Trail (Paperback)

For anyone who has wanted to prepare for the rigors of long-distance trail life, or simply experience this vicariously from the comfort of home and hearth, the potential to be inspired is within these pages. Each page rings true with the experience, wit and wisdom of the writer as he negotiates and navigates the long thin line between wilderness and civilization that is the Pacific Crest Trail. An experience sometimes mysterious, sometimes heart-warming, while at others, how to survive the raw hardship of life on the trail is impressively fascinating, whether this be the need to locate safe shelter, water, or soothing libations. The tragic circumstances of this book's publication in no way diminishes, even amplifies its power.