Inspiring and entertaining account of a 4300km solo hike from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Despite never having hiked before, George Spearing decided to take 'leave of absence' from his job as a firefighter in the New Zealand Fire Service and walk the length of America.
Travelling entirely on foot and off road, his five month journey takes him through the desert areas and snowbound High Sierra Nevada of California, the Cascade ranges of Oregon and Washington and finally emerges in the Okanogan Forest of British Columbia, Canada.
The diverse mix of Mojave desert, High Sierra snows and the characters and wildlife met along the way, provide an often humorous look at the US and its wilderness through the eyes of a New Zealander.
The lively easily read style, along with several images, provides an entertaining and inspiring read for anyone contemplating hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or for anyone who enjoys a good adventure story.
"Great Book!" I stumbled across this book in passing - looking for something new after having just read a book on the Dalai Lama. Most of the books that I browsed looked like they'd be let-downs after having just read a very inspiring story about His Holiness. I paused to read an excerpt from Dances With Marmots and it sounded like the author had a good sense of humor. I reasoned that even if the storyline was uneventful and full of dry technical information, at least there might be some good jokes in there. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book isn't just about hiking, it is a book about adventure (mentally, physically, emotionally). I have recommended it to my family and friends and guarantee you'll be chuckling through the whole book. Very inspiring!
"A Worthy Book" A five star (out of 5) book. I had many laughs because of his humor and writing style. There are many anecdotes about his experience and some history about the area he travels through and also comments about life in general. I read the book completely through in one sitting. It was that good.
"excellent work" The five months which George Spearing spent on the Pacific Crest Trail (of which I had never heard) are related in great detail: the people and animals (including bears and snakes) he met, and the experiences he had. Quite fascinating, really, and it took some guts to do it and keep on to the end, all the way from Mexico to Canada. There are some excellent photographs too, and it opens up a side of the United States which I didn't really know about until now.
"Re: Dances With Marmots" i cannot better anything that has been said already, just wish i had the guts to do it, i think in comparison our trails are still in the kindergarten and i am glad they are or i would not have walked any, as long as there are men like George with a sense of humor to write about such walks, i am willing to sit and read about them, cheers George ern
"Dances with Marmots - George Spearing - Highest Rating" I shot right through the book and finished it off in short order. The reason, of course, was that I found it to be very interesting, humorous to the point of frequent guffaws and snickers, and inspirational. I truly believe that only those with physical and mental toughness have a chance to actually complete a thru-hike in one season. Add to that the perils of heat, cold, rain, snow, lack of water, scrapes, bruises, sprains or broken bones, loneliness, missed food drops, leaking canteens, dried-up water sources, wildlife (bears and rattlers, e.g.) and a host of other perils, and it becomes apparent that one has to also be very fortunate and resilient to get through. I believe the odds are really stacked against success, and that is why stories such as yours are so uplifting. Add to all that, the fact that you were half a world away with very limited resupply support, and it becomes an incredible undertaking. I had... More > originally thought that perhaps the next edition should include a dictionary of terms, so those of us unfamiliar with your particular way of expressing various words would be able to zero in on the meaning. In retrospect, however, I also believe that having to guess at the meaning adds to the magic, entertainment and humor of your story. Thanks again, George, for the great read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the outdoors, adventure, and human triumph.< Less
"Dances With Marmots" Great great book. You will laugh, get misty eyed, learn and get inspired. Georges style is light hearted and his attitude is even better. If you hike distance then you will love this read! Pick it up. By far the best book of its kind. I have read a lot of them even ones from prize winning authors. George says it best.
"Charmed, I am!" Reading this book was such fun! Delightful humor offsets the discomforts and inconveniences of long distance hiking, but not so much that a casual weekend hiker like myself might be tempted to walk about. I guess I'm just a fair weather hiker, and fond of my creature comforts. OK, I admit it, I'm a pansy and as such, I am deeply impressed with Mr Spearing's adventurous fortitude. Good on ya, George! (foreigner aren'tcha?) Love his inventive turn of phrase, and wondered frequently how many of those were simply New Zealand standards that an American like myself found to be fresh and dead-on. 'Being monstered by bears' is my favorite example and one that I found applicable to many daily encounters, from rogue children to my neighbor's overly exhuberant Rottwieler. Hope the author doesn't mind if I borrow that from time to time. Buy the book. You'll have a great time.
"Amazing book!" Tony said it well, after starting to read parts of this book, I am inspired to one day do this trip as well. An amazing trip to be sure!
