Journey on the Crest: Walking 2600 Miles from Mexico to Canada

Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile if you're interested in the Pacific Crest Trail
Review: Cindy Ross hiked the 2,600 mile Pacific Crest Trail over the course of two summers in
the early '80s, encountering a wide range of fellow hikers, deep snow and sunny
meadows, "trail towns" and lonely ridgelines.

Obviously, such an experience has enormous potential for a book, which is the main
reason this book is in it's fourth or fifth printing; there are a limited number of books written
on the PCT, and this book has successfully tapped that market.

The most outstanding aspect of the book is, in my opinion, the author's honesty about her
experiences. There is a tendency among those who are recording real-life experiences to
add a great deal more color to the story than the facts would warrant. This book doesn't
come across that way at all. When she is having a great day, the author lets you know
about it, and when she is tired and cold and sick of the whole business she's not afraid to
let you know about that either. On occasion I would cringe at some of the blunt
observations she made of her hiking companions, but that is part of honesty of the book.
Ross's bad moods on the trail just as quickly turn to delight as the trail works it's magic.

On the other hand, the writing style often seemed choppy to me, and was shy of
humor. On a personal level, I grew a little tired of the weeping and complaining. Just as
it can be painful hiking with someone who drives you crazy, it was often difficult for me
to "hike" with Cindy Ross. Also, the drawings illustrating the books struck me as
amateurish. The cover of the book has a couple of beautiful color photographs which
capture the grandeur of the trail far more than any drawing in the book I found the end of
her hike was extremely anticlimactic as written.

For someone interested in experiencing an adventure vicariously, but with no particular
interest in the PCT, I wouldn't recommend this book. For reader's interested in the Trail,
this book will provide an honest, account written by someone who has been there.

Rating:
Summary: inspirational story
Review: Even if you never hike,translate the underlying message of this book to your own life. When the immediate future seems hopeless, you're physically and/or mentally exhausted, push on toward your goals. Cindy Ross and Todd did. Follow their example. Don't lose the passion! PS I've backpacked in Arizona Canyons. Rattlesnakes there rattle.

Rating:
Summary: Unique, but Not Great
Review: First, I must firmly say that hiking the entirety of the 2600-mile Pacific Crest Trail is a remarkable journey worthy of telling, even if the author is not focused on relating the journey and even if the author found many negatively tinged experiences and challenges. There are very few books detailing a hike of the PCT, though there are many good ones that describe a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and one good one about the Continental Divide Trail. I have read all of the PCT thru-hike stories, even the one out of print book. They total 3 and this book ranks 2nd among them (ranking first is the wonderful coffee table Smith/Berger book). After my own PCT thru-hike attempt in which I walked over 1/3 of the trail over the course of several months, I can say that Ross' account -- aside from mediocre writing -- is edgy and overly negative. I disagreed with many of her opinions and could not relate to her severely oppressive mental struggles to stay out there. To me, the trail was a joy, a love and a constant source of energy and enthusiasm. I always wanted to keep going and see what lay around the next bend. This book is Cindy Ross' experience, only one of many. Unfortunately, few people record their adventures in a book. For her effort, I commend Ms. Ross. However, I caution the reader that my opinion, as another thru-hiker, is that many thru-hikers have a MUCH more positive, enlightening journey than is described here, albeit a tough and challenging journey both mentally and physically. But at its root, a long distance hike is a joy and privilege to experience first hand for those who love the adventure. Take this book as a gift -- a unique story about a trail few ever thru-hike and few have ever recorded on paper. But also, take the story with a grain of salt. It is only one story of many more positive, enlightening stories that have never been written.

Rating:
Summary: "Journey on the Crest", a journey of extraordinary endurance
Review: I admire Cindy's extraordinary edurance and her finally fulfilling her goal although I cannot relate to her need to do such a thing. Cindy wrote of her experiences with clarity. Also, it was interesting and humorous and I enjoyed the book very much. For anyone who comtemplates doing the same thing, I heartily recommend they read her book first and for anyone not thinking of doing the same thing, I recommend it anyway just for the great entertainment, education and enjoyment of reading about a grand adventure.

Rating:
Summary: Accessible, informative, holds your interest.
Review: I left this book wishing Cindy Ross wrote more about her travels. She comes across as very likeable, though at times slightly goofy, but very authentic, respectful of others, and deeply appreciative of the wonders of the California desert, the High Sierras, and the mountains of Oregon and Washington. You will leave this book wishing to visit Muir's Sierras in particular. My wife read and enjoyed it just as much as I did. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Her explanation for why the rattlesnakes of the southermost PCT are all silent (they really are), and her description of hiking through their land, will make your hair stand on end.

Rating:
Summary: gotta read it , gotta share it...
Review: I read Cindy's book about 4 years ago. I found the book very motivating, aswell as an excellant read. I have since hiked alot of the PCT legs Cindy and Todd have covered. I recommend this book to several people a year and usually giving it as a gift. I recommend this book to anyone thinking about going an a long hike, both men and women. I am male, age 49 and felt better prepared for the long hikes having red this book. I ran into a young man last month (August) hiking in the Threes sisters Wilderness area who actully new Cindy and Todd. He had the same feelings about Cindy's book as I do. He was a skinny red haired beared wild man of Bornio type dude. Gotta read it, gotta share it. Tim Danaher Redmond WA.

Rating:
Summary: An honest account of one woman's difficult journey.
Review: This book read like an eighth-grader's diary. Easy to read, but more frustrating and irritating than entertaining and informative. I wanted to vomit everytime the author spoke of how much she loved her trail mates, and especially the second half of the book when she gushes puppy love about her new husband. The author spends too much time discussing her fear of snow, and not enough time telling the history of the trail. I wanted to learn about the development of the trail, and the history of the many national parks the trail runs through. I guess I have been spoiled by other books. If your goal is to get a feel for the day-to-day of being on the trail, and want something that doesn't challenge your mental facilities, then this is the book for you. If you want something that is informative and humurous, in the mold of Bryson, skip this book. For a more informative read about the PCT, take a look at "Along the Pacific Crest Trail."

Rating:
Summary: Too much gushing, not enough of the trail
Review: While I greatly admire Cindy Ross in accomplishing a thru-hike of the PCT (albeit over 2 years), I was quite disappointed in her writing style. Of particular annoyance was the High School gushing over her husband, whom she married halfway through the book. That became so irritating it nearly made me nauseous. I came to this book with a desire to learn about her hiking experiences, the trail conditions, the stories of resupplying in town, the physical effects of the trek and whatever spiritual satisfaction she gleaned from such an arduous journey. Instead we are regaled with endless (and pointless) tid-bits about her husband and other trail mates.

In short, too much extraneous information and not enough of the actual trail experience. Other reviewers have noted that Cindy seems short on humor, and I would concur. While I would never minimize her tremendous accomplishment, her writing style is sophomoric, whiny in long stretches and overly sentimental about relationships and puppy love. Call me a cynic, but this thru hiker didn't move me, even though her accomplishments are inspiring.