Pathfinder
Blazing a New Wilderness Trail in Modern America
Ron Strickland had a dream of showcasing the best hiking of theRockies, Purcells, Okanogan, Cascades, Olympics, and Wilderness Coast.He spent years raising funds, recruiting volunteers, cutting brush,digging dirt, and lobbying landowners, officials, and politicians– and in 2009, the twelve-hundred-mile Pacific Northwest Trailwas declared a National Scenic Trail.
In his adventurous and moving memoir, Strickland shares his insiderview of conceiving and establishing the trail, detailing the setbacksand triumphs along the way. He intersperses colorful portraits ofmemorable characters he encountered and lush descriptions of hikesalong the trail.
Pathfinder offers the rich insights and experiences of alongtime hiker, inspiring readers to the wonder of hiking and theoutdoors.Introduction
Along the PNT: The Wilderness Coast
I Became a Hiker Because…
The Bad Boys of Backpacking
Along the PNT: North Cascades
Bucking the Brush
Ralph Thayer’s Broadaxe
Murder Mystery at the Old Mine
Along the PNT: The Okanogan
Trail Magic
Along the PNT: Roll on Columbia, Roll On
Off the Trail: Longing for Roots
Solo
Off the Trail: The Backpacker Parent
Along the PNT: The Selkirk Mountains
Women on the Trail
Pass It On
Along the PNT: The Purcell Mountains]
A Labor of Truly Obsessive Love
Willful and Eccentric
Ten Essentials
Very Romantic
Off the Trail: Walden Pond
For I Believed in Traveling Light
The Path Ahead
Aong the PNT: Shared Vision
Books from the Trail
Glossary; Further Reading; Bibliography; Index
