4 Adventure Books to Read this Winter
What are you reading this winter? Warm up with four of our favorite outdoorsy book recommendations! Hopefully they’ll inspire, encourage and even bring new wonder to some beautiful places. What’s your favorite adventure book? Tell us!
Four of our favorite adventure books
The Sun Is A Compass | Caroline Van Hemert
Follow along on this 4,000 mile journey as Caroline and her husband, Pat travel through the wilds of Alaska by ski, foot and pack raft. Cobbling together their own “path” and working from their combined outdoor experiences, they embark on an adventure into some of the most remote places in Canada and Alaska. A trip full of unknowns and places unmarked on maps, their journey feels raw, vulnerable and full of excitement. A trained ornithologist, Caroline brings her knowledge of birds into the narrative, providing insight into the wonder of the wildlife around her.
Find it here.
Hudson Bay Bound | Natalie Warren
Two young women, Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho embark on a 2,000 mile canoe trip from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Hudson Bay, Canada. The first women to accomplish this incredible adventure, they follow the route first taken by Eric Sevareid in 1935. There were a few who wondered if they’d make it, including the women themselves. But they both had experience doing multi-week canoe trips and both had buckets full of strength and determination. This delightful journey is seen through the eyes of women on the cusp of adulthood. They decide to take a risk and have a summer trip they’ll never forget.
Find it here.
Journeys North | Barney “Scout” Mann
There are few people who can call themselves “Triple Crowners”. There are even less who’ve accomplished the feat over the age of 55. Triple crowners are backpackers who’ve thru-hiked all of the following trails; the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). They’ve done each trail in one shot vs sections, the shortest being 2,200 miles and the longest, 3,028 miles. That is is a cumulative total of 7,878 miles for all three trails. Are your feet hurting yet? Barney Mann is one of the few who can call himself a “Triple Crowner” and he hiked them all post retirement.
After retirement in 2007, Barney and his wife Sandy Mann (an incredible hiker in her own right), decided to thru-hike the PCT together. For years they were trail angels, providing hikers a place to stay or a ride to the trailhead from their San Diego, CA home. Barney weaves a beautiful story of their amazing 5+ months on the trail. What he does especially well is highlight the trail and life experiences of 8 other thru-hikers they meet along the way. It’s an adventure that goes beyond statistics, it’s really about the heartbeat of the trail. It’s about the people and everyone working towards a common goal - to finish!
Find it here.
Going Inside: A Couples Journey of Renewal into the North | Alan Kesselheim
Do you ever wish you could head into the Canadian wilderness for a year? Pack a few bags an go? We do!
Alan Kesselheim and his wife, Marypat Zitzer did just that. As a young couple, they were struggling in their marriage. Having done plenty of adventures over the years, they decided that the best way to help resolve some of their issues would be to head into the wild. They didn’t have any children and were also struggling with infertility. With few other responsibilities, they embarked on a canoe journey one summer that took them from from Alberta, Canada to shores of Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan. Once they arrived, they stayed in a small log cabin over the winter, acting as caretakers for a fishing camp. Through the beauty and solitude surrounding them, they mended their relationship and discover something wonderful at the end.
Find it here.
BONUS! One of our favorite outdoor podcasts is Out Alive by Backpacker. Have you heard it? There are interesting and sometimes harrowing stories of regular folks like us who survived difficult situations during an adventure. How about you? Have any good outdoor podcast we shouldn’t miss? Tell us!
Disclaimer: We receive no compensation in any way for promoting or recommending these books, we just enjoy them and think you will too.
