Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: Wild

Wild: from Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed 2012

In 1995 Cheryl Strayed was a young divorcée actively grieving the loss of her beloved mother to cancer. Her family has dissipated and her life lacks direction. When she begins to dabble in heroin, she realizes that she is spiraling out of control. At the lowest of low points, she makes the decision to hike 1,100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail from California to Oregon. Hauling a massive backpack she calls “Monster”, she sets out alone only able to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Over the course of her trek, she revisits her childhood and other parts of her past, and as she becomes completely broken down, she finds a strength she never knew she had—and finally begins to heal. With humour and candour, Cheryl shares her emotional journey on the West Coast. In the most challenging of scenarios, we root for her to survive one adventure after the next and achieve her goal. In the end, despite the pain of the journey, you almost want to give the Pacific Crest Trail a try yourself!