Bookmarks & Staff Picks

Adventure Ready

An interview with thru-hikers and authors Katie Gerber and Heather Anderson

By Marissa Litak, Mountaineers Books Publicist

Photo from Adventure Ready, courtesy of Mountaineers Books.

The reputations of Katie “Salty” Gerber and Heather “Anish” Anderson precede them. Katie is a renowned wilderness instructor and guide who has logged thousands of miles on trails including the CDT, PCT, Colorado Trail, and Oregon Desert Trail. Heather is a recordsmashing legend who was named a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for her 2018 Calendar Year Triple Crown (hiking the AT, PCT, and CDT all in one year). Now they have joined forces to combine what they’ve learned on the trail and through their expertise in nutrition and personal training to create Adventure Ready: A Hiker’s Guide to Planning, Training & Resiliency, new from Mountaineers Books. To mark the release of this step-by-step guide to preparation, movement, nutrition, and recovery for backpackers and thru-hikers of all levels, Katie and Heather sat down for a conversation about thru-hiking, learning on the trail, and hiking your own hike.

You’ve both had profound experiences on the trail, times when you’ve fostered confidence and resiliency. What are some ways this has served you in your daily lives? Katie Gerber: So much of what I’ve learned on trail has made me better equipped for life off trail! One of the biggest lessons I’ve taken from time in the backcountry is adaptability. It’s great to have a plan, but life inevitably throws you curveballs. Accepting the situation for what it is, remaining calm, and shifting quickly into problem-solving mode has served me on trail as well as in daily life at home. Exploring my physical and mental limits on trail has shown me that I’m capable of more than I thought, and that confidence emboldens me to make uncommon choices and pursue a life that feels meaningful to me. Heather Anderson: For me, spending time on the trail has been the equivalent of decades on a therapist’s couch (and much cheaper!). I've worked through so much trauma and grief by immersing myself in nature and allowing myself to heal. Every tool I have for coping with daily life was nurtured by my on-trail experiences.

What would you say to someone who feels like they’ve “failed” for starting a thru-hike and not being able to complete it (for whatever reason)? K: As cliché as it is, I truly believe there’s no such thing as failure when you’re pursuing your dream. It’s all feedback. If it didn’t turn out how you wanted, evaluate whether there’s something to learn that you can apply next time. Examine the narrative you’re telling yourself about the event. Framing it as a failure affects your self-concept and prevents you from wanting to try again. Being proud of yourself for taking action towards a goal and learning from an experience sets you up for growth. Don’t let your past define your future. Finally, trust yourself. If you decided it was time to get off trail, for whatever reason, trust that you made the right decision for you at that moment. If you want to complete the trail later, it’ll always be there for you. H: Fail is a word that should be wiped from your vocabulary - especially when it comes to hiking or other outdoor endeavors! A thru-hike may start as a box to be checked, but it's really a journey that is far more encompassing than simply reaching the terminus. Whether your hike lasts a week or several months, or whether you walk a third of the way or all of it, you will learn something. Even taking the courageous step to start your trek will teach you so much about your own depths of bravery and willingness to discover more about your abilities. There is no failure in not completing your dream or having the end point be different than you thought it would be when you started.

What is the most important thing you hope readers take away from Adventure Ready? K: My deepest intention with the book, and all my work, is that readers come away with the knowledge and skills to safely and confidently embark on more backcountry adventures. I hope readers feel empowered and capable. H: I hope readers gain a sense of confidence in themselves by reading through Adventure Ready. More than simply feeling equipped with knowledge, I

Katie Gerber and Heather Anderson.

hope they develop trust in themselves to learn, grow, and make decisions both on trail and off. No one's journey is the same as another's and our desire is to encourage readers to embark on their own journey with self-confidence.

Lightning round:

Tent or tarp?

K: Single-wall trekking pole shelter H: Tent

Creamy or crunchy peanut butter?

Both: Crunchy

Siesta or hike all day?

K: Hike all day, but with breaks for snacks and vistas H: Hike all day and into the night!

Hiking boots or trail runners?

Both: Trail runners

Worst ailment to befall your feet?

K: Heel blisters! H: Some sort of painful tissue tear during my Calendar Year Triple Crown

Most important item in your first aid kit?

K: First, my brain (skills, knowledge, experience) and ability to remain calm. Secondly, my satellite communication device. H: Neosporin

Favorite thing to find in a hiker box?

K: An unopened bag of something salty and crunchy H: Sunglasses that are better than the ones I'm wearing Adventure Ready is available for purchase at our Seattle Program Center bookstore, online at mountaineersbooks.org, and everywhere books are sold. Also check out Heather’s two previous memoirs, Thirst and Mud, Rocks, Blazes, chronicling her record-setting hikes on the PCT and AT.

52 Ways to Nature: Washington

By Lauren Braden

Organized by season, 52 Ways to Nature: Washington is an accessible adventure guide featuring immersive activities to keep you engaged in nature all year long. Readers can work their way through the entire collection or choose individual activities that inspire them. There is no one way to be outside, and 52 Ways to Nature provides readers the tools to build a relationship with nature that lasts a lifetime. Newcomers, long-time residents, parents, and solo explorers alike will all find new ways to revel in the natural world with the inspiring and accessible activities featured.

Crossing Paths: A Pacific Crest Trailside Reader

Edited by Rees Hughes and Howard Shapiro

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the original Pacific Crest Trail Readers, editors Rees Hughes and Howard Shapiro bring the PCT to life as it is now with a host of diverse contributors who come together to share their experiences from their life-changing journeys. Reflecting the contributors’ rich and varied individual experiences, Crossing Paths represents the geographic, gender, ethnic, and age diversity of the PCT and strives to reflect the totality and depth of life on the trail. For anyone looking to share in the cross-cultural experience that is the Pacific Crest Trail, Crossing Paths is a must-read.

Walking Great Britain

By Heather Hansen From easy riverside strolls to challenging mountain summits, explore the beautiful trails that span the scenic peaks and valleys of England, Scotland, and Wales with Walking Great Britain. Walking Great Britain is the quintessential guide to Great Britain’s vast collection of walking and hiking trails, with an abundance of full-color maps and photos, descriptions of towns, and charts that highlight trail amenities and details. Author Heather Hansen provides detailed notes on local history, cultural and literary highlights, and ecological and geological tidbits to craft an inclusive guide to the region.