In Beauty May She Walk
By Leslie Mass
Turning 60 was a pivotal time in Leslie’s life. A college professor and part of a large family, she had always dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, but never felt she had the time or resources to do it. Finally, she was going to make that dream a reality. Having done years of research, her detailed preparation was in place, and she was ready. Leslie accomplished what they call a flip-flop hike. First, she hiked the northern portion and then the southern half from the same starting point. Due to circumstances at the time, she completed this in two years instead of her initial plan of one year. Her memoir quietly reads like an intimate journal, reflecting how she managed her meals, family obligations, mental exhaustion, physical challenges and the beauty she observed as she hiked through some of the most magnificent mountains in the world. Whether you are an avid hiker or just a weekend walker, this story will transport you to the Appalachian Trail. To have accomplished this difficult achievement as a solo female hiker later in life is an inspiration to us all.
True North
By Andrew J. Graff
The Brecht family loaded up their Winnebago and headed out to Thunderwater, deep in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. It was the summer of 1993, and things were not going well for Sam and Swami. Sam’s job as an art teacher might have been ending, and his marriage was on the rocks. Sam convinced his wife to spend the summer at his uncle’s rafting company. As young students, Sam and Swami had fallen in love as rafting guides. There was nothing they treasured more than the intoxicating rapids and the great outdoors. With three young children in tow, Swami was not thrilled, but she hoped that nature might rekindle the love they once shared. Upon arrival, they found Woodchuck in shambles. The guides were a group of yokels and the barn was falling apart, and Swami wanted no part of it. She separated herself and the children while Sam connected with the group, especially his uncle. While a new rafting outfit presented fierce competition, a global mining company suspiciously persuaded locals to sell their land. As the town argued the merits of expansion, the drama rose faster than the river. Historic flooding threatened to ruin their efforts to save the company and themselves.
Dixon, Descending
By Karen Outen
Dixon Bryant missed the Olympic track team trials by two-tenths of a second. He spent his adult life trying to outrun these feelings of failure. Instead of relishing his many incredible record-breaking events, Dixon placed all his efforts into being the good boy, the rule-following son and younger brother. Years later, as a middle school psychologist, Dixon often had to decide whom he could save and which boys carried the possibility of rising above their circumstances. Nate is the older brother, a disarmingly handsome, charming businessman searching for life’s meaning. He suggested that the once athletic men, now middle-aged, challenge themselves physically and mentally. Nate wanted them to summit Mount Everest and become the first African American men to reach the top of the world. Although hesitant at first, as soon as preparations began, they were hooked. Every waking moment became focused on the mountain and the herculean journey that lay ahead. Frightened and excited, neither of the brothers was prepared for the choices they ultimately had to make. A fascinating tale of mountaineering, family, friendship and racism, this unpredictable page-turner is not for the faint of heart and will take your breath away.
#WORTHWATCHING: Marc-Andre Leclerc was a free-spirited Canadian rock climber and alpinist known for his incredible solo ascents. In 2015, a film crew closely followed Leclerc climbing some of the most difficult and dangerous mountains in the world. “The Alpinist” is a fascinating documentary you can watch on Amazon Prime Video.
