150 Days: The true story of how I lost 88 pounds and became a mountain goat on the Pacific Crest Trail

by Lise Kristine Viken

The Pacific Crest Trail will change your life...

Lise Kristine Viken was an overweight nicotine slave, out of shape and struggling to breathe. Desperately seeking a lifestyle change, a book about the Pacific Crest Trail set her dreaming. Inspired by hikers half her age, she left Norway and stepped onto the PCT...

The Pacific Crest Trail has been called North America’s toughest hike. Stretching from Mexico to Canada across the high mountains of California, Oregon and Washington, the 2,650-mile trail can defeat even the fittest and most experienced hikers.

Facing the deep snows of 2017, Lise swiftly discovered that the PCT was more beautiful and challenging than she’d ever imagined. The obstacles were many, but the healing power of nature, the kindness of strangers, and her own self-belief, kept her moving.

150 Days is an unforgettable true story about an extraordinary journey of transformation. Written with humor, honesty and charm, it is an inspiring testament to what chasing dreams and never giving up can accomplish.

If 150 Days doesn’t motivate you to live your best life, no book ever will.

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2023

Reviews

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lively travelogue of the author's time on the Pacific Crest Trail. I enjoyed this more than I expected—I'd thought from the subtitle that this might be largely focused on weight loss, but though Viken does talk about that (it was one of the reasons she decided to hike the PCT in the first place), it's treated in the book as more of an "I did all this walking and met these people and ate a ton of food and occasionally checked the scales and was satisfied with the trends and then got back to hiking".

Viken took a fairly relaxed approach to the PCT itself, which is nice to see. I've read more than my fair share of thru-hike memoirs in which the authors worry about whether or not to accept lifts, whether they should feel guilty about skipping sections, etc., but even if Viken had planned to hike straight from A to B, it didn't work out that way, and she ended up having a pretty flexible hike that sometimes took her off trail...or off onto another trail. She had the hiking experience already (with no specific evidence to support this, I like to think that that is the norm in Norway), so she was less learning the ins and outs of long walks and more learning what this long walk would look like for her, which is satisfying.

The downside of the relaxed approach is that the book gets a little more scattered in the back half—when it's unclear whether Viken will reach Canada or go off on a different adventure—but that's not so huge a quibble. A nice addition to the PCT thru-hike subgenre.

[Lexey Burns · Rating 1 out of 5]

This should not have been my first book of 2025. This was 178 pages of just sucky writing??? Like I know this is a translation from Norwegian to English, but a lot of the sentences just don’t make sense grammatically.
Her writing felt super shallow and it reminded me a lot of “Around the world on 50 dollars” which I actual burned because I hated it so much. She barely went into any depth about her relationship with her daughter and brought up how she was single a lot and had a bad weight gain after she quit smoking, but that’s really all I know about her? Her author’s note at the end was more compelling than 99% of the book. Would not recommend. She also feels incredibly vague throughout the book, more like random diary notes than a memoir.
Also!!! The COVER says she lost 88 pounds, but she only loses 44? Is that just like a kgs to lbs mix up? Idk but fact check before you put it on the cover. The kindle version also has spelling mistakes, extra spaces, and randomly hyphenated words.
If anyone has any better PCT memoirs, I need to redeem myself.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice but short read. I enjoyed reading about her adventure pct. I think she sometimes could describe it more (like the surrounding nature, her feelings a bit more). But when you want an easy, enjoyable read, this book fulfills that.

[Arlys Veen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As my son is about to go out to hike the PCT, I enjoyed reading this book. It took awhile as I followed her on Google maps. She was from Norway and originally wrote it in Norwegian but her English was good. There were fires and deep snow so she did not complete the trip but it was interesting.

[a.t.m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story about the Pacific Crest Trail and a courageous author

The author has written a wonderful book and for me and any other reader of this book is taken on a journey. She shares her highs and her lows while on her quest and is remarkably grateful to everyone that helped her, while on the trail. Beautiful work and I highly recommend. Wish she had included photos.

[Katherine B Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I love to read adventure stories, to live vicariously through the adventures of others. Stories about hiking the PCT and Appalachian trails are always interesting. What makes this book especially special is the writer’s view as a visitor from Norway and an older female hiking alone. My utmost admiration goes out to Lise. I live in the PNW, very close to the PCT, and would have loved to have met her.

[George Latta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real Life PCT Thru-Hike

An enjoyable and easy read of what normally happens on a thru-hike of the PCT: Challenges, detours and life itself! Being a solo hiker myself, I found it refreshing to see how important the social aspect is for supporting day-to-day life on the trail. Congrats to the author and Happy Trails to the readers!

[Catherine J. Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty interesting read and from a Norwegian's experience of our Pacific Northwest was eye-opening. I think the hikers are brave for hitchhiking. It's not something I'd ever do. I'm glad to find out that I am not the only one who imagines sounds in the night might be bears.

[Fran Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

great storytelling

Really enjoyed reading this story about all of the challenges, hardships, successes, and beauty of the PCT. In many ways an inner journey as much as a physical one.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

I love these type of books, especially when weight is involved.

Surprisingly, weight is rarely mentioned, although it is one of the reasons the author chooses to make changes.

As I read, two thoughts kept popping into my head. 1. I would never do 99% of these activities and 2. The only thing I have in common with this author, is our love of chai tea.

At first I really got into this story, told in sort of diary form.

However, I was disappointed with the author's lack of insight during this journey.

At first, she does tell us about who she is and, for me, that was the best part of the book. From 3/4's in, it becomes so repititious - "I don't want to ascend or descend in snow, we hiked right through (insert name of the trail or small village), we hitchiked, we found water, we pitched a tent and I am cleaning my clothes". Basically a travelogue.

Even though this book is short, it either should have been edited down or more insights should have been included. I read a lot of memoirs (a lot) and I admire people who can write books, so I am really unsure what to rate this book. 3.5 stars it is!

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read numerous books on hikers & the PCT. Some were great, others not. This one was just ok. It felt abbreviated, leaving out many good details (that I learned from other books) that felt critical to know about hiking on the PCT. It kept my interest to the 50% mark then just became repetitive and I started skimming to the end. There’s really no mention about her weight loss except 2-3 sentences about it scattered in the story. Not even sure why it was mentioned in the title. Also the kindle edition constantly had words with hyphens in the middle..very awkward. They didn’t belong and it was weird.

[Traci Styner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Lise Kristine Viken's memoir of her hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. I read a lot of hiking books and, while not a literary masterpiece, this one is better written than many, especially considering the translation from Norwegian. It's a pretty short, easy read.

She does a great job describing not only her feelings about her hike, but the people she meets and a bit of context for the places she visits. I enjoyed her perspective as a foreigner in the US.

What I really liked about this book is how much she learns about herself and that she gives herself permission to stop when hiking no longer feels like it is the right thing to do.

[Heather Palmer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is more like a daily journal of poorly remembered hiking days. I hiked today and ate junk food. I didnt want to get up this morning but hike 20 miles and spept in a tent. Very monotonous. The story isn't engaging and doesn't draw you in at all. I got to day 30 and realized I wasn't interested in reading anymore. I popped over and read a couple reviews that confirmed this was a good point to stop.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I read it in two days. I knew so many places that were mentioned as I grew up in the PNW and spent many summers and holidays on the Oregon Coast. I also read "Wild" several years ago by Cheryl Strayed. Two different perspectives about the Pacific Crest Trail, several years apart. If my siblings are reading this...you would enjoy this book. So many places you will recognize. This was a very inspiring book.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, and reads like a daily journal of her hike. I’m sure some of the many typos result from translation, but some are just sloppy and take away from the reading experience (“by” instead of “my” for example). Especially toward the end. At that point, the daily journal entries are shorter and less interesting - as if the author and the editor just wanted it to be over. Unfortunately, at that point, so does the reader.

[Leslie Cragin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hitchhiking the PCT

The book is relatively engaging. I admire anyone who can do this sort of trip. However the amount of time and miles the author spent off trail negates, for me, the purpose of the trip. I am not criticizing the decision to skip the snow packed Sierra but the many many other times she and her companions did so.

[Lauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little disappointed. The title is misleading, and there are many typos (which are probably due to translation). It reads like a diary for an entry every 150 days. Which seemed shortened in the end. Kudos though to the author for overcoming her obstacles and living her best life.

[Margaret Agard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Held my interest

I'm not sure why some hiking the trail memoirs hold my interest, and others do not. I believe part has to do with the heart of the author and this author has a good heart. Worth the read.

[Billie Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a book for hikers.

Interesting day by day account of the PCT hike. Her description of the people she met was entertaining and enlightening. So different from Cheryl Strayed experience.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent excellence hiking adventure

Really enjoyed this one. Not the best, but certainly far from the worst travelogue.
Would recommend.
I love the perspective of an older woman, especially when visiting the United States

[Ana Marlatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story and adventure. The writing, not so much. I understand this is a translation, so I get it. The story itself was inspiring, a bit repetitive at times and almost like a list, probably because of the writing style. Quick and easy read.

[Ellen Cantarow · Rating 4 out of 5]

moves along but…

Could have used a good editor. After the umpteenth “juicy” hamburger and “delicious” chai latte during the rest stops I was just about cliche-gagged. But she did lose 88 pounds!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read

Great to experience the PCT through the eyes of a Norwegian woman. I am so glad that she (mostly!) enjoyed her time here. And that she liked Americans and traveling here. Very well written and interesting book.

[Jessica F C · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Wild, set amongst the PCT this is another one for you. A book about a women’s personal hiking journey - If I wasn’t scared of bears, blisters and the thought of walking 2790 miles - this book may just have tempted me to go on my own adventure.

[Beth Ann Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much driving. Not enough hiking.

Better books in this genre. Seems like she hitchhiked through the entire trail. Very bland writing. Maybe it was a translation problem. Not for me.

[Gwynn Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy books on hiking

I have been reading numerous books on hiking so I thought I would enjoy her adventures on the PCT. I question though if she indeed hiked the entire way or if she got rides a great deal of the way.

[James Hegtvedt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read I enjoyed and looked forward to reading daily.

[Neisa BAss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating so low because of the translation, kind of terrible with a lot of typos. I finished the book, the content was ok, but more like reading a daily journal.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of typos, but not shocking with a self published book. I loved this woman's story. She's fun and modest and quite the badass! Wish I'd met her on trail!

[Sheilia Stodder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful true story!

Lise did a remarkable job writing her experiences on the Pacific Crest Trail. I enjoyed reading the book. Great book!