Crossing Divides: A Couple's Story of Cancer, Hope, and Hiking Montana's Continental Divide

by Scott Bischke, Katie Gibson (Foreword by)

Be inspired by how the human spirit prevails over cancer Crossing Divides is the story of a young couple’s heroic struggle with cancer and their 800-mile hike across Montana’s Continental Divide. The hike provides an opportunity for metaphorical comparisons between perserverance and fighting cancer. Scott and Katie face their challenges--from chemotherapy to grizzly bears--with spirit, resolve, and a unified front. This celebration of the precious, unpredictable nature of human life and wild places illustrates the courage it takes to put one foot in front of the other--without knowing whether peace or danger lies around the next bend.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

A Writer's Life in Four Simple Bullets
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* I have lived with my wife through her recurrent cancer, and have shared with her the joy — post cancer — of walking 3,000 miles along the Continental Divide.
* I express myself best in writing, though friends will tell you that I am hard to shut up.
* I have special love of a special place, Montana.
* I have never experienced writer's block.

Writing Books that Matter
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I am a reader, as well as a writer. I have a limited time each day, indeed in life, and I want the things I read to matter. Likewise, I want what I write to matter, to have a reason for being, to engage the reader. I believe that a good story, crafted well, has the power to change the world. I have published a number of popular press books, as described in this website. Each of my books, in its own way, presents a topic I found critically important at the time I wrote it...and still do. The books and their reason for being follow:

* Bat Cave: A Fable of Epidemic Proportions (Critter Chronicles, #2) — epidemic disease, societal decision making, and immigration

* Fish Tank: A Fable for Our Times (Critter Chronicles, #1)— natural resources, societal decision making, and climate change

* Crossing Divides: A Couples' Story of Cancer, Hope, and Hiking Montana's Continental Divide — health, nature, wilderness, healing from cancer

* Good Camel, Good Life: Finding Enlightenment One Drop of Sweat at a Time — health, yoga, spirituality, philosophy

* TrumpelStiltskin: A Fairy Tale — the election of our 45th president, as seen through a re-imagined fairy tale

* Two Wheels Around New Zealand: A Bicycle Journey on Friendly Roads — travel, adventure, escape, wilderness
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Reviews

[Scott Bischke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crossing Divides artfully blends Scott Bischke and his wife Katie Gibson's agonizing struggle against Kate's advanced, recurrent, "terminal" cancer with the story of their three month, 800+ mile hike along the Continental Divide Trail across Montana. Numerous themes and parallels weave through the book. Several encounters with grizzly bears, for example, provide an avenue for metaphorical comparisons between the fear of grizzlies and the fear of cancer. Similarly, Kate's ability to persevere through the toils of a long- distance hike provides a constant parallel to her ability to persevere against cancer. Other themes include the importance of a dogged spirit in battling cancer and the importance of wild country in revitalizing the soul. As folksinger and long-distance hiker Walkin' Jim Stoltz has said of Crossing Divides, "This book proves that focusing on each day, and just putting one foot in front of the other, CAN get you to your goal. It's a ray of sunshine and a boost of hope for us all."

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mmm....I wasn't a fan. Outdoors? Medicine? Usually my two favorite topics--putting them together should have been fantastic! But I found the hiking portions rather dull and felt spoon fed their message. It is an amazing story and a fantastic recovery, but I wasn't impressed with its telling.