The Mountaineers Books Journeys North: The Pacific Crest Trail

Famous trail angel Barney "Scout" Mann takes readers through a riveting portrayal of his experience on the Pacific Crest Trail.

In 2007, hundreds of eager hikers kicked up dust from the Mexico monument as they set foot on the Pacific Crest Trail. Among them were Barney "Scout" Mann and five other hikers he encountered along the way. In Journeys North, Scout includes snippets about trail romance, culture, humor, and exploration.

The eloquent narrative questions why one might hike 2650 miles along through California, Oregon, and Washington. 

About the Author

Barney "Scout" Mann lived much of his life as a lawyer. But eventually his love of the mountains drove him to Triple Crown. This means that he hiked over 7,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.

When he wasn't hiking, he hosted thousands of hikers in his San Diego home with his wife. Staying with "Scout and Frodo" has become a rite of passage for most hikers that dare to begin the PCT from Mexico. 

Structure

Scout catalogues the journeys of six different hikers with great specificity. As a man who spent many years learning about the PCT serving on the PCTA's board, he also peppers his story with historical information and descriptive images of the places he journeyed through. He has a keen eye for data and does a great job of making it digestible for the average reader. Journeys North is a page-turner with bite-sized stories that drag readers through the PCT without all of the pain.

Competitive Books

If you've fallen down the thru-hiking rabbit hole, you've probably heard about books like Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. Maybe you've turned the pages of Cheryl Strayed's Wild. While these books provide value of their own, they miss an essential thru-hiking element: community. 

Before Journeys North, there wasn't a truly honest literary depiction of thru-hiking. Scout changed that with his recent publication. Not only is his book a beautiful story that captures humanity, its also the most accurate depiction of thru-hiking that I've encountered. 

Background

As a thru-hiker of the Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail, Annapurna Circuit, and more, I've fallen in love with trail culture. While I don't know Scout personally, his reputation precedes him. And his narrative does the hiking community justice.