Journeys North by Barney Scout Mann

In Journeys North, legendary trail angel, thru hiker, and outdoor advocate Barney Scout Mann spins a compelling tale of six hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2007 as they walk from Mexico to Canada. This ensemble story unfolds as these half-dozen hikers--including Barney and his wife, Sandy--trod north, forming relationships and revealing their deepest secrets and aspirations. They face a once-in-a-generation drought and early severe winter storms that test their will in this bare-knuckled adventure. Only a third of all the hikers who set out on the trail that year would finish.

The Introduction begins with Mann forgetting Sandy's birthday ... they'd hiked 2,600 miles, had only fifty miles to go, and were in knee-deep snow, a white-out blizzard. A third hiker asked Sandy, "What do you want for your birthday?" She didn't hesitate, her breath starkly visible, 'I want to get out of today alive."

Journeys North is a story of grit, compassion, and the relationships people forge when they strive toward a common goal.