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In her new memoir, Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home, Heather, whose trail name is "Anish," conveys not only her athleticism and wilderness adventures, but also shares her distinct message of courage—her willingness to turn away from the predictability of a more traditional life in an effort to seek out what most fulfills her. Amid the rigors of the trail—pain, fear, loneliness, and dangers—she discovers the greater rewards of community and of self, conquering her doubts and building confidence. Ultimately, she realizes that records are merely a catalyst, giving her purpose, focus, and a goal to strive toward.
Heather is the second woman to complete the "Double Triple Crown of Backpacking," completing the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide National Scenic Trails twice each. She holds overall self-supported Fastest Known Times (FKTs) on the Pacific Crest Trail (2013)—hiking it in 60 days, 17 hours, 12 minutes, breaking the previous men's record by four days and becoming the first women to hold the overall record—and the Arizona Trail (2016), which she completed in 19 days, 17 hours, 9 minutes. She also holds the women's self-supported FKT on the Appalachian Trail (2015) with a time of 54 days, 7 hours, 48 minutes. Heather has hiked more than twenty thousand miles since 2003, including ten thru-hikes. An ultramarathon runner, she has completed six 100-mile races since August 2011 as well as dozens of 50 km and 50-mile events. She has attempted the infamous Barkley Marathons four times, starting a third loop once. Heather is also an avid mountaineer working on several ascent lists in the US and abroad.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 1, 2019 -
Formats
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781680512373
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781680512373
- File size: 3880 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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February 15, 2019
Some in the trail-hiking community were dubious when Anderson, an ultramarathoner in her early 30s with scant trail-racing credibility, dared to attempt to break Scott Williamson's speed record for hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). In 2013, Anderson (whose trail name is Anish) proved all the naysayers wrong, completing the 2,650-mile trek, which runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington, in 60 days, 17 hours, and 12 minutes, beating Williamson's FKT (fastest known time) by four days. How does someone go from an overweight high-schooler to a record-breaking endurance hiker? Certainly not by the conventional route. Averaging 40-plus miles a day, despite dehydration, sleep deprivation, and nighttime encounters with wild animals, Anderson simply never stops walking. Along the trail, she makes peace with her recent divorce and her decision to shuck societal pressure in order to live a nontraditional lifestyle. For her, a purposeful life means to dream big, live courageously, and move in sync with nature.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)
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