Four Boots-One Journey

Book excerpt: Newlyweds Jeff and Beth Alt could not be more different. Jeff, an avid hiker, prefers long, exhausting thru-hikes and sleeping under a canopy of stars. Beth, on the other hand, prefers hotels, hot showers, and ending the day in a warm, clean bed. But when Beth's brother dies tragically by suicide, Jeff convinces Beth to join him on a 218-mile hike along the John Muir Trail to honor her brother's memory and spread awareness about depression. Their journey is never short of surprises, and they encounter everything from menacing bears, lightning bolts, and mountain lions to food shortages and altitude sickness. But as they pass through three national parks—Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Park—including the highest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mt. Whitney, Beth discovers the joys, trials, and extraordinary beauty of exploring nature with just a backpack to your name. A Hike for Mike, Four Boots One Journey is a heartwarming, humorous tale of one couple's adventurous journey to healing, rediscovering nature, and falling more in love with each other every step of the way.