
Force of Nature
Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail
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Narrated by:
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Anna Crowe
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By:
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Joan M. Griffin
About this listen
Three friends, women in their fifties, set out to hike "the most beautiful long-distance trail in the world," the John Muir Trail. From the outset, their adventure is complicated by self-inflicted accidents and ferocious weather, then enriched when they "adopt" a young hiker abandoned by her partner along the trail.
The women experience the terror of lightning at eleven-thousand feet, the thrill of walking through a towering waterfall, and the joy of dancing among midnight moonshadows. For a month, they live immersed in vast natural beauty, tackle the trail's physical demands, and find camaraderie among an ensemble cast of eccentric trail characters. Together, they are pulled forward toward the trail's end atop the highest peak in the High Sierra, Mt. Whitney, and the culmination of their transformative journey.
Force of Nature is equal parts gripping adventure tale, personal memoir, and vivid nature writing.
©2023 Black Rose Writing (P)2024 Black Rose WritingListeners also enjoyed...
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Story
Just before her 40th birthday, Gail Francis quit her perfectly good job and set out to hike one of the great trails of the world. Carrying everything she needed on her back, Francis spent five months walking from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail. Along the way, she lost her pack scrambling over scree in the desert, struggled to navigate high mountain passes, and wore the soles off her boots trekking across lava fields - all within some of the most pristine wilderness in the nation. Though she set out alone, her story includes an eclectic cast of characters.
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Bummer
- By CHRISTOPHER on 03-14-19
By: Gail M. Francis
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Five Million Steps
- Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail After Three Decades of Service to Our Nation
- By: Jason France
- Narrated by: Jason France
- Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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From a rough childhood to a distinguished United States Air Force career, Jason France’s life has been a whirlwind of sacrifice, service, and personal struggle. But it has also been filled with amazing opportunities and incredible experiences. After retiring from serving over three decades in uniform—and holding one of the highest enlisted leadership positions in the military—Jason embarks on a solo trek to hike the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. His five-month journey to rediscover himself and fulfill a childhood dream turns out to be far more than he imagined.
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Great story!
- By Gregory R. Bodenstein on 12-17-24
By: Jason France
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Kingdom of Olives and Ash
- Writers Confront the Occupation
- By: Michael Chabon, Ayelet Waldman
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders, Gabra Zackman
- Length: 16 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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A groundbreaking collection of essays by celebrated international writers bears witness to the human cost of 50 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. In Kingdom of Olives and Ash, Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, two of today's most renowned novelists and essayists, have teamed up with the Israeli NGO Breaking the Silence and a host of illustrious writers to tell the stories of the people on the ground in the contested territories.
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An emotionally and ethically charged book
- By Loni Shelef on 11-18-17
By: Michael Chabon, and others
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A Walk in the Park
- By: Kevin Fedarko
- Narrated by: Kevin Fedarko
- Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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A few years after quitting his job to follow an ill-advised dream of becoming a guide on the Colorado River, Kevin Fedarko was approached by his friend, the National Geographic photographer Pete McBride, with a vision as bold as it was harebrained. Together, they would embark on an end-to-end traverse of the Grand Canyon, a journey that, McBride promised, would be “a walk in the park.” Against his better judgment, Fedarko agreed to the scheme. The ensuing ordeal, which lasted more than a year, revealed a place that was richer, and far more complex, than anything the two men had imagined.
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I so wanted to love this book but I just couldn’t.
- By Barbara W. on 05-31-24
By: Kevin Fedarko
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Death in the Long Grass
- A Big Game Hunter's Adventures in the African Bush
- By: Peter Hathaway Capstick
- Narrated by: Luke Oldham
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Few men can say they have known Africa as Capstick has known itleading safaris through lion country; tracking man-eating leopards along tangled jungle paths; running for cover as fear-maddened elephants stampede in all directions. And of the few who have known this dangerous way of life, fewer still can recount their adventures with the flair of this former professional hunter-turned-writer.
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The best African hunting author in my opinion
- By Chris Esplin on 04-10-24
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The Unlikely Thru-Hiker
- An Appalachian Trail Journey
- By: Derick Lugo
- Narrated by: Derick Lugo
- Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Derick Lugo had never been hiking. He certainly couldn't imagine going more than a day without manicuring his goatee. But with a job cut short and no immediate plans, this fixture of the New York comedy scene began to think about what he might do with months of free time. He had heard of the Appalachian Trail, but he had never seriously considered attempting to hike all 2,184.2 miles of it. Suddenly he found himself asking, Could he do it?
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On My Feet All Day
- By bannedbum on 08-21-21
By: Derick Lugo
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Becoming Odyssa
- Adventures on the Appalachian Trail
- By: Jennifer Pharr Davis
- Narrated by: Jennifer Pharr Davis
- Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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After graduating from college, Jennifer isn't sure what she wants to do with her life. She is drawn to the Appalachian Trail, a 2,175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Though her friends and family think she's crazy, she sets out alone to hike the trail, hoping it will give her time to think about what she wants to do next. The next four months are the most physically and emotionally challenging of her life.
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Just read WILD again.
- By Candice Philpot on 10-02-20
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Ranger Confidential
- Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks
- By: Andrea Lankford
- Narrated by: Julia Motyka
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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The real stories behind the scenery of America’s national parks. For 12 years, Andrea Lankford lived in the biggest, most impressive national parks in the world, working a job she loved. She chaperoned baby sea turtles on their journey to sea. She pursued bad guys on her galloping patrol horse. She jumped into rescue helicopters bound for the heart of the Grand Canyon. She won arguments with bears. She slept with a few too many rattlesnakes. Hell yeah, it was the best job in the world! Fortunately, Andrea survived it.
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Depressing from Cover to Cover
- By Drew (@drewsant) on 04-13-15
By: Andrea Lankford
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The Trail
- A Novel
- By: Ethan Gallogly
- Narrated by: Jake Hunsbusher
- Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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The Trail is a moving story of how nature helps us find what’s missing in our lives. The tale begins with Gil, who in the wake of his father’s death and recently fired from his job, agrees to accompany his father’s old hiking partner Syd on a month-long trek on the John Muir Trail. There’s just one problem: Gil hates camping and is woefully unprepared for the rigors of the journey. Moreover, he soon learns Syd may not survive the hike.
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Audible version - excellent!
- By JocelynF on 02-24-22
By: Ethan Gallogly
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Walking Thru
- A Couple’s Adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail
- By: Michael Tyler
- Narrated by: William Sarris
- Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Bored and fed up with life, staring down a 50th birthday, Mike Tyler was looking for a change. Life had become routinized and unexciting. Maybe it was a mid-life crisis, or maybe just a yearning for one last big adventure. Mike decides to try hiking from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail, just to see what happens. Mike convinces his wife, Margo, to join him. Together, they embark on a five-month hike full of anticipation. They hike through some of the most stunning and remote places in the country on a trail full of unique, offbeat characters.
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Just Eh...
- By Carrie Ann on 07-18-22
By: Michael Tyler
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Landlines
- The Remarkable Story of a Thousand-Mile Journey Across Britain
- By: Raynor Winn
- Narrated by: Raynor Winn
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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The Cape Wrath Trail is hundreds of miles of grueling terrain through Scotland's remotest mountains and lochs. But the lure of the wilderness and the beguiling beauty of the awaiting glens draw them northwards. Being one with nature saved them in their darkest hour years earlier—and their hope is that this experience can work its magic again.
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Heartfelt and Beautifully Written
- By Amazon Customer on 11-28-24
By: Raynor Winn
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Where's the Next Shelter?
- By: Gary Sizer
- Narrated by: Gary Sizer
- Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Where's the Next Shelter? is the true story of three travelers on the Appalachian Trail, a 2,000-mile hike that stretches from Georgia to Maine, told from the perspective of Gary Sizer, a seasoned backpacker and former marine who quickly finds himself humbled by the endeavor. If you long for the horizon or to sleep under the stars, then come along for the hike of a lifetime. All you have to do is take the first step.
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If You Liked AWOL, You'll Like This
- By Rebecca on 06-02-16
By: Gary Sizer
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The Trail Provides
- A Boy's Memoir of Thru-Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
- By: David Smart
- Narrated by: David Smart
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Disillusioned by the corporate lifestyle, David finds himself unemployed and desperate for change. Bradley, his older, more adventurous, and slightly-wreckless college fraternity brother presents an enticing offer. Just a few weeks later, the two inexperienced hopefuls abandon society and plunge into a soul-searching sojourn to thru-hike the Pacific Crest trail, a 2,650-mile Mexico-to-Canada footpath - barefoot. At the trail’s mercy from day one, the two hikers face the endless pains of walking, rising tensions, and falling behind to the coming winter.
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Good Story
- By Zach mielens on 01-02-20
By: David Smart
What listeners say about Force of Nature
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- Haakon Jakobson
- 04-12-24
Inspiring!
i was riveted from beginning to end. I was sorry to finish, but anxious to get out on the trail.
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- Anonymous User
- 11-12-24
Wonderful long distance hiking story
What an inspiration to listen to this story while recovering from a total knee replacement surgery. The women’s age, grit, and determination in hiking the John Muir Trail offered me hope and encouragement to be back on the trail as soon as possible!
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- Historian
- 12-23-24
An inspiring and brilliantly told memoir
Joan writes a testament to the strength of women and the beauty of nature. As a 50 something woman who loves hiking but also likes a shower and bed at the end of the day, her story makes me wonder . . . Could I?
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-04-24
The strenght on those ladies.
Amazing book, I couldn't stop reading or listening. Highly recommended to any one that enjoy a book that grab you by your heart.
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- Debbie
- 02-14-24
Honesty of good, bad and ugly
Truly enjoyed listening to this journey of women on the trail. What a great experience!
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- Buglady
- 05-19-24
Awesome!
Wonderful story telling. Parallels much of my backpacking experiences, but in the Rockies! A highly recommended book !
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-10-24
A Relatable Story
I loved that it was something I could relate to. I'm not sure why but I didn't care for the voice of the person reading it.
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- Diane Schreiber
- 02-24-25
Kept me hooked from first page
I really enjoyed this book. I had never read a book about hiking let alone a 200 mile hike. But the storytelling was wonderful. The three ladies were enjoyable. And I highly recommend you read this. I could envision all the beauty the reader spoke of.
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- Vickie Woods
- 03-26-24
Vivid descriptions. Great writing. Interesting story.
I like this book so much I bought copies for all my hiking friends. I loved the interaction between characters and watching the growth of the writer.
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- SKK
- 04-03-24
Loved the raw truths of the trail
I throughly enjoyed the book. Loved the raw truth of trail life and life in general. Because neither is easy. But we take both one step at a time and keep going.
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