In Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart, Carrot Quinn chronicles her adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail. Beginning in Southern California and ending in Oregon, Quinn covers 2,650 miles of some of the most challenging terrain in North America. Along the way, she meets fellow hikers with whom she forms close bonds, deals with treacherous weather conditions, and struggles to keep pace with what has become an all-consuming passion. Through it all, Quinn’s determination never wavers; her love for hiking is constantly renewed by the stunning beauty of her surroundings and by moments of pure joy that can only be found on a long-distance hike. This captivating narrative offers readers a rare inside look at one woman’s transformative journey into self discovery.” Thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a transformative experience.
For who is this book for ?
The author, Carrot Quinn, chronicles her journey on the PCT in this book. The Pacific Crest Trail is a challenge for anyone and reaches over 2,650 miles long. This trail goes through some of the most treacherous terrains in North America. Along with conquering these trails hikers also battle weather conditions – rain or shine! A thru-hiker is someone who hikes the entire length of a LONG distance trail like the PCT all at once (or ‘thru’). So if you are thinking about hiking it one day, this book will give you great insights into what to expect but ALSO tells how transformative and rewarding this experience can be for ANYONE – not just hardcore hikers!
Pros :
- Gives readers a rare inside look at one woman’s transformative journey into self discovery.
- The author writes with stunning clarity and poetic insight about the natural wonders of the PCT.
- Offers valuable insights for anyone considering thru-hiking the PCT or any long distance hike.”
Cons :
- The author could have elaborated more on some of the topics.
- Some readers may not be interested in hiking or outdoorsy activities.
- “Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart” is a bit long for a book about hiking
Learn more about the author
Carrot Quinn is a thru-hiker, ultra runner, and outdoor writer. Her writing has appeared in Backpacker Magazine, Trail Runner Magazine, The Trek (thetrek.co), Women’s Adventure magazine, Elevation Outdoors magazine and elsewhere. In this book she chronicles her journey on the PCT from southern California to Oregon covering 2600 miles of some of the most challenging terrain in North America meeting fellow hikers with whom she forms close bonds dealing with treacherous weather conditions and struggling to keep pace as it becomes an all consuming passion; her determination never waivers as she conquers one milestone after another.
Reader Reviews
“Carrot Quinn has written a riveting account of her thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. This book is packed with rich detail about the natural beauty and challenges of this iconic trail, as well as insights into the author’s own journey. Anyone who loves hiking or wants to know more about thru-hiking will find much to appreciate in these pages.”
“If you’re at all interested in the outdoors, hiking, or trail running then this book is for you. Carrot Quinn takes you on an intimate journey of her thru-hike of the PCT and provides vivid detail into not only what it’s like to hike such a long distance but also what it means mentally and emotionally. I couldn’t put this down.”
“I could not put this book down! I love hiking and was fascinated by the author’s journey. She is an excellent writer and provides great detail while maintaining a sense of suspense. A truly amazing adventure!”
“Carrot Quinn’s Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart is an engaging and brutally honest account of her journey on the PCT. This book provides a rare look at the highs and lows of thru-hiking, from finding community among strangers to battling extreme weather conditions and injuries. Through it all, Quinn’s love for hiking shines through, making this an inspiring read for any outdoor enthusiast.”
