
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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"Lace up your hiking boots! Let Griffin guide you over granite mountains, through thunderstorms, and wildflower-studded meadows." –Barbara Olson Lawrence, author of the forthcoming Drawing Water
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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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Divided
- A Walk on the Continental Divide Trail
- By: Brian Cornell
- Narrated by: Zac Katz-Stein
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Once a person hikes a long trail, they catch the bug, but does it get any easier the second time around? Four years after starting the Appalachian Trail with his brother, Brian takes to the Continental Divide Trail for his second thru-hike in familiar company. However, trail life is not always as rewarding and romantic as the pictures you see or second-hand stories you hear.
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Generalities and platitudes
- By RLCalhoun on 12-13-22
By: Brian Cornell
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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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Only When I Step on It
- One Man's Inspiring Journey to Hike the Appalachian Trail Alone
- By: Peter E. Conti
- Narrated by: Peter E. Conti
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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It was 23 months after his accident, and Peter was still dealing with constant excruciating pain. He'd seen dozens of doctors and tried a myriad of medications, but nothing seemed to work. Faced with the impossible choice of suffering through the rest of his life, he had an unlikely epiphany, "If I could somehow hike 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail, then my leg will have to be better." He set a starting date three weeks out, cobbled together a novice's pack, and set off on a journey destined to change his life forever—though not exactly how he had envisioned it.
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Inspiring story
- By D Williams on 05-29-22
By: Peter E. Conti
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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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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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Nowhere for Very Long
- The Unexpected Road to an Unconventional Life
- By: Brianna Madia
- Narrated by: Brianna Madia
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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In this beautifully written, vividly detailed memoir, a young woman chronicles her adventures traveling across the deserts of the American West in an orange van named Bertha and reflects on an unconventional approach to life
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not what I thought
- By J. Abrego on 04-16-22
By: Brianna Madia
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Trail of the Lost
- The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail
- By: Andrea Lankford
- Narrated by: Kristi Burns
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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As a park ranger with the National Park Service's law enforcement team, Andrea Lankford led search and rescue missions in some of the most beautiful (and dangerous) landscapes across America, from Yosemite to the Grand Canyon. But though she had the support of the agency, Andrea grew frustrated with the service's bureaucratic idiosyncrasies, and left the force after twelve years. Two decades later, however, she stumbles across a mystery that pulls her right back where she left off: three young men have vanished from the Pacific Crest Trail.
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Much ado about nothing
- By Linda Harmon on 10-01-23
By: Andrea Lankford
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If I Live Until Morning
- A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation
- By: Jean Muenchrath
- Narrated by: Sarah Brands
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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An inspiring memoir about a courageous woman's survival and recovery from an adventure-induced trauma - and the power of her dreams to overcome tragedy and live life to the fullest. Her wilderness adventure turned into a nightmare. After skiing more than 200 miles along California's John Muir Trail, Jean faces death from a mountaineering accident on Mount Whitney. Broken and bleeding on the highest peak in the continental United States, she vows to realize her greatest dreams if she lives until morning.
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Definite listen for those looking for “more” (than the obvious/given)
- By Melissa Cribb on 04-03-21
By: Jean Muenchrath
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Solo
- What Running Across Mountains Taught Me About Life
- By: Jenny Tough
- Narrated by: Jenny Tough
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Growing up in the Canadian Rockies, the mountains have always been home for Jenny Tough. Travelling the world, she's always discovered commonalities with mountains—and mountain people. Her major project is to run solo and unsupported across a mountain range on every continent where indigenous mountain people live isolated from the outside, urban world. Running solo and unsupported comes with obvious logistical as well as physical challenges, but running is also a common language.
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Bravery
- By Wild on 11-25-22
By: Jenny Tough
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Just Passin' Thru
- A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters
- By: Winton Porter
- Narrated by: Jones Allen
- Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Like a well-crafted stage play, Just Passin' Thru delivers one suspenseful scene after another. But in this historic setting a store on the Appalachian Trail called Mountain Crossings the characters who show up are no fictional creations. Like any good drama, there are the good guys (and gals) and the weirdos, too. Some show up once (and that’s enough), and some appear again and again. But all are united by two things: the author’s story-capturing talent, and whatever it is that lures them to attempt (or conquer) a 2,200-mile path that climbs and plummets from Georgia to Maine.
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Well Worth it!
- By Pamela M. on 11-13-14
By: Winton Porter
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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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Going to Maine
- All the Ways to Fall on the Appalachian Trail
- By: Sally Chaffin Brooks
- Narrated by: Sally Chaffin Brooks
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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From comedian Sally Chaffin Brooks comes a memoir about the thing she can't seem to shut up about— her life changing thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. 25-year-old Sally has no reason to upend her comfortable, conventional life to spend 5 months hiking the Appalachian Trail; no reason except that her charismatic best friend, Erin, asked her to come along. A woefully out-of-shape Sally quickly realizes she may not actually be prepared for the realities of thru-hiking— brutal weather, wrong turns, and painful blisters have her wanting to quit almost as soon as she starts.
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Great story - consistently terrible English
- By Anonymous User on 05-07-25
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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- ryan
- 12-27-23
Love it so far!
Joan was one of my teachers in 8th grade (and one of my favorites overall). This story takes place one or two years before she became my teacher. Not only do I love the story and how it's written, but to peek behind the curtain and see this very human side of such a large figure from my childhood adds an extra layer of interest and emotion
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- Mamma Reuter
- 04-27-24
Well great… now I want to hike the JTP… I don’t think my husband will appreciate this!
I love wilderness camping, but do most of it through kayak and canoe trips. After reading this and hearing about all the different types of people, especially those with imperfections, who do big hikes, now I may have a new goal. I felt like I was right there with the author, she really brought you on the trail with her. The reader had a beautiful voice that I really connected with. Be warned before you read, if you have an affinity for the outdoors, this could inspire you to do something you might have never even considered!
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