Ditching the city for the wilderness; walking from Mexico to Canada, against all odds.

Carrot Quinn is weary of a life of screens, in a city where she feels disconnected from everyone. In a desperate move, she breaks away from everything to walk 2,660 miles from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail.

In the desert of Southern California Carrot faces many challenges, both physical and emotional: pain, injury, blisters, aching cold and searing heat, dehydration, exhaustion, loneliness. In the wilderness she happens upon and becomes close with an eclectic group of strangers- people she wouldn't have chanced to meet in the “regular world” but who are brought together, here on the trail, by their one common goal: make it to Canada before the snow flies.

Length: 371 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Product details

File Size: 1377 KB
Print Length: 371 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publication Date: April 13, 2015
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00W4RICAM
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:

Enabled
Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported
Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,788 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #61 in Travel (Kindle Store)
- #3 in Mountain U.S. Regional Travel
- #5 in Walking (Kindle Store)

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Customer reviews

5 star		73%
4 star		14%
3 star		5%
2 star		4%
1 star		4%

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myalea

Would you like cheese with your WHINE?

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2019

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I love reading about the PCT. This may be the worst I’ve ever read. Hiking is hard but she is relentless in her misery. Every page is filled with whining, complaining, neediness, lack of self-reliance, lesbianism, promiscuity, and cussing. There is so much beauty on the trail along with the bad but you don’t hear about it here. It’s the rock-bottom worst throughout. I made it to Oregon and couldn’t take it anymore. I feel awful for her trail companions. If she was anything like the thoughts on paper she would’ve been miserable to be around. I’m sure if she ever reads this review she won’t give a **beep**. I wasted four dollars on this read. It’s not worth reading it for free.

78 people found this helpful

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Not a fan - she makes hikers look bad

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2019

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While I did find it tolerable enough to read the whole thing and acknowledge the writing style finally improved 1/2 way through, I end this book just feeling like she makes hikers out to be selfish, disgusting, “takers” of others’ generosity and of the wilderness itself. The PCT just comes across as a dirty highway- overused and polluted by the hikers who claim to be conservationists. After reading it, my desire to thru-hike is OVER as it seems like a series of weeklong hikes where hikers return to the city and gorge and splurge like sloppy Americans. She comes across as running from reality and avoiding adulthood. Not the secluded triumph and challenge they claim it to be. Ewww... just ewww.

45 people found this helpful

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Emily Greenfeld

I can honestly say I've never hated a book this much

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2018

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Have I ever read a more unlikable book? Have I ever cared less about a main character? When you're three quarters of the way through a book and are virtually hoping that the author will finally fall off the next cliff and stop writing, you know something's wrong.

I cannot understand why this book has so many high ratings. I've read a number of other day-by-day hiking journals, so I knew what to expect. I know there is a lot of repetition and monotony, because that's part of the real thru-hiking experience. (For example, I very much enjoyed Hikertrash by Elin Miller) But this book was in it's own league.

The author is thoroughly unlikable.The complaining is incessant. Reading about her expectations of and interactions with other people are solely cringey. She makes mistake after mistake, regularly runs out of food and water, and learns nothing as she goes. I mean, if four months into your hike you still haven't figured out your basic food and water needs, should you even be hiking?

60 people found this helpful

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SlowBro

Best written book about a thru-hike of the PCT!

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2015

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First, full disclosure- I thru-hiked the PCT in 2014 and met Carrot briefly near Kennedy Meadows when she was hiking it for the second time. Now on with the review.

Our journeys were completely different and yet, in most ways, exactly the same. When reading her book I was amazed at how eloquently she was able to capture the experience. She put words to my thoughts about the trail. Just reading the teaser paragraph excerpt at the front of the book about the wind in So. Cal., I was in that maelstrom of wind again and she got it exactly right. In forty years of backpacking I had never been in wind like that. I was unable to describe it and yet Carrot effortlessly pitches you into the chaotic scene in a few crisp sentences. I was "blown away"- pun intended. She gives us a glimpse at the day to day drudgery and the amazing bits of brilliant magic that was my experience on that "18 inch by 2660 mile highway." She crafts her story well and is not afraid to lay her soul bare.

If you want a well written true account of what a thru-hike of the PCT is like look no further. No two treks of the PCT are ever the same and yet they are. Thanks, Carrot, for put words to the shared experiences of thru-hikers everywhere. -SlowBro

183 people found this helpful

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1959

I give up...I really can not waste any more of my time....

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2018

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I tried, I honestly tried. I read about 50 pages and just can't take it...I have absolutely no idea how this book rates at the way it does. I should (and will in the future) read the 1 and 2 star reviews. One star is way too generous...

38 people found this helpful

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Travis Duke

a great modern day thru-hike story

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2017

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Carrot succeeds at writing a detailed yet emotional story of hiking the PCT back in 2013. I am no expert but i have read a decent amount of these PCT/AT stories and most fail for a number of reasons. It is in the form of a daily journal, sort of, but she keeps it's playful and colorful. Carrot is 30-31 when she hikes the trail back in 2013 so it is one of the newer PCT books and I think her language is relatable and fun. I will say the back half of the book from oregon to washington really shines. She becomes more poetic and expressive and I think her writing style shines. I see some people frown at the graphic parts with her and Ramen or maybe other parts but she is just being honest and raw and i didn't have a problem with it.

Like i mentioned this is one of the better thru-hike books i have read, most of the others are bland and only focus on flora and fauna or are gruelling because it is a rigid daily journal. Carrot infuses the daily journal with insight and silliness but doesn't take aways from how long and repetitive a 2600 miles hike it. Understanding how difficult the hike is can be hard to grasp but as a writer i would think you would need to convey how serious this hike is without boring us to death.

Some might ask, is this like Wild? no not really. I would say Wild is beautiful but it doesn't illustrate the length of the PCT very well. Wild is stylized to be a good novel and it succeeded but it doesn't give you "daily life" feel that is so characteristic of a thru-hike. I think Wild and this book are just two different approaches.

One that same token if you are not into hiking or the PCT the book probably won't resonate as well, but that kind of goes without saying.

36 people found this helpful

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Top international reviews

NicM

Engaging, personal and (but?) not all that much about the trail

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2019

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I've read several PCT books and this is by far the most personal. The author focuses more on her relationships with others than providing you with much detailed information about the hike. I don't say this to put future readers off, I'm just telling you what to expect if you get the book. While many other books have been littered with historic anecdotes, this is a bit more "I'm super hungry and a reallllllly miss my friends right now..." At times this can be juvenile and I occasionally found myself getting irritated at the author. eg: she will complain about things that are entirely within her control. But then she's done the PCT and I haven't. And if her stories about her childhood are true, it's amazing that she's a functioning adult at all. Her "blog" style of writing is, for the most part, entertaining and engaging and I enjoyed reading the book despite my criticism.

4 people found this helpful

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Sarah J.

Addictive Reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2018

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Thank you Carrot for this honest and very real account of your epic first thru-hike. Out of the many thru-hiking memoirs I've read this is one of my favourites. I found the clarity of your writing captivating and a real antidote to all the fake stuff we have to wade through in life. It was difficult to put the book down. A love story on several levels your account made me cry more than once. This book is a real achievement and I look forward to reading the rest of your stuff.

2 people found this helpful

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Andrew

thank you

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 25, 2018

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For anyone who has undertaken an epic journey this book brings to life the memories of the beginning, describes the simplicity of it's universe, the highs and lows of the physical endeavour, and the relationships formed in an uncomplicated environment. The emptiness of the end and realisation that the "real" world is still out there. It brings to life a an experience that only someone who was there will ever truly understand.
For those who are yet to take that journey it shows you that the most ordinary people can do the most extraordinary things....by taking one step at a time.
I have read many books... this the first review I have been inclined to write.

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BSL

Hiked every free minute with her ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2017

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After having read a few books about the 3 long US hikes, 3 male one female, I loved to read this book. The style easily let me participate in her walking experience. Different to male walkers making and keeping friends seem more important to female walkers. The end was as in all other books almost not existing in contrast to the after hike life. Maybe this is so. Looking forward to her next book - Please, no heartache for a guy ...

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Atomica

Raw and honest account of hiking the PCT and finding yourself along the way

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2015

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I don't recall how I came across the author's blog, but as soon as I did I spent (and still do) hours poring over her writing, which is raw, honest, and flows incredibly well.

This book, which is the account of the author's hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013 has some excellent writing. There are points during the second part where the flow of the narrative breaks up, but things pick up nicely in the final parts where the quality of the prose is just excellent. I haven't been reading as much as I have liked recently, but I raced through this book, first too quickly because I wanted to slow down and savour the adventure. I consistently felt as though I was in the author's shoes, to the point where having read her experiences I want to plan a similar trip in the near future.

In a word, inspiring.

2 people found this helpful

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Hugh

Really enjoyable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2020

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A great read about the trials and tribulations of walking the PCT. I will say I purchased this through error and started to read it with a heavy heart - glad I set about it, a really enjoyable good read that I could hardly put down. Not the easiest read as I did find it moved about a bit but that could be as much down to me as to the author.

I took a lot away from having read this book. Go for it take the plunge, purchase and read, you will not be disappointed.

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andrew d

Excellent account of a PCT hike

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2018

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Carrot Quinn seems to have written a very honest and interesting account of her PCT hike.
I have listened to this book several times.
A must read (or listen to) if you are interested in the PCT.

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An interesting take on good walk

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2018

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I've read many long distance trail books but this was the first from a female author. I was not sure if gender would make much difference. It did and in a positive way. The focus on relationships was interesting and added a depth of perspective missing in many other accounts. I enjoyed this read very much and would recommend it anyone looking for something a little out of the norm.

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Ed Vones

A journey of epic proportions

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2017

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I've read a few books on the journey that is the PCT, this ranks amongst the best. It kept my intrigued to read about the authors 'journey' what she felt, how she coped, how it made her feel! I hope there's a follow up detailing your CDT walk, because I want to read it & experience a little of it through your eyes.

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hels 61

... came across the author's blog by accident and immediately loved reading it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2015

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I came across the author's blog by accident and immediately loved reading it. When I found she had wrote a book I got it straight away. It doesn't disappoint and makes you feel that you are walking the trail with her. It's an honest open account about her adventure, the people she meets and the highs and lows along the way. It's a personal and emotional journey by a very determined inspiring woman.

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Amazon Customer

Makes you wanna home!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2020

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A fab book that in equal measures makes you want to hike and makes you want to scream “I can’t do it”. Heartfelt, honest, humorous and moorish this book makes you want to keep on reading and looking for a happy ending

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mervyn west

the amazing views, the trail names

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2015

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Apart from the blisters, the cramps, the dust, the heat, the chafing, the fly's, the wasps, the moscitos, the snakes, the bears, the altitude sickness, the hypothermia, the rain, the cold, the wind, the amazing views, the trail names, the terrible diet and the 2660 miles.
There is a story of true friendship, and a personal, emotional journey.

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R. Nolan

Excellent – highly recommend this book!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2015

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Being familiar with the author’s blog, I knew she wrote well. Yet I am still surprised at how her writing is lifted to the sublime in this book. Clever telling of a story that I thought I knew, so that it remained an all-consuming read.

The wonder of beautiful writing and how it can resonate; I may have been working on-call on the other side of the ocean, I have also been dream-walking the PCT whilst reading this wonderful book!

One person found this helpful

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Malcolm Lockey

WOW

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2017

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I,m hoping to do the trail l,ll be 65 in 2 years time posting the boxes is the first hurdle I am useless at stuff like that I guess I will have to learn. Good luck for the future carrot god bless Malcolm

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Amazon Customer

Trail poetry of the finest

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2017

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Warning - this book is addictive! . Grappling with the magical that can be simultaneously oh so miserable and so beautiful and break your heart... Trail poetry of the finest
A fellow hiker

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