What do you think?
Rate this book
The High Adventure of Eric Ryback: Canada to Mexico on Foot
The story of the first person to backpack the entire Pacific Crest Trail. An 18 year old accomplished this lone trek in 1970. An epic 2500 mile journey to maturity and manhood.
166 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1971
4 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 26, 2023
I enjoyed the book. Some people have dismissed Eric saying that he had gotten a lot of rides and used inferior equipment. So what if he got some rides; it was a great adventure for anybody, especially for a boy his age. I think his equipment was the best available. As a boy of 12 or 13 when I read this, it inspired me to want to do a similar hike. I never did anything like him, but enjoyed the trip through his eyes. I still remember this book with fondness 40 years later. I would read it again, but unfortunately, I lost the book somewhere in the intervening years.
Update: I was able to get a hardback copy of this book through interlibrary loan (thanks to Salt Lake City Library and Weber State University Library), AND I was able to get a paperback copy of my own for way less than $100.
It is interesting to see my different viewpoint now than what I had almost 50 years ago. In some ways, the hike seems more incredible now than it did then. I guess a more mature understanding of the challenges involved is responsible for that. Considering that Eric was missing some key items that would have made things easier (like gloves and a flashlight) and that his equipment would be considered ancient by today’s standards, it is pretty amazing that he was able to do this. I found myself asking, “Did he really do this?”, and “How did he do that?”, several times during my latest reading. Well, the photos are there, so he must have done it.
One part I thought was very interesting was that he was taking several “selfies” at one of his camps. He wanted something “heroic “ for his future grandchildren. He was dissatisfied with each picture until finally, he got a picture of “A weather-beaten figure hunched over a map upon a desolate mountain slope “. He got several more with a sunset in the background and wrote, “I hoped my future grandchildren would be properly impressed with the old boy’s acting talent.” By now those grandchildren must have seen the photos, so I wonder, were they properly impressed?
Update: I was able to get a hardback copy of this book through interlibrary loan (thanks to Salt Lake City Library and Weber State University Library), AND I was able to get a paperback copy of my own for way less than $100.
It is interesting to see my different viewpoint now than what I had almost 50 years ago. In some ways, the hike seems more incredible now than it did then. I guess a more mature understanding of the challenges involved is responsible for that. Considering that Eric was missing some key items that would have made things easier (like gloves and a flashlight) and that his equipment would be considered ancient by today’s standards, it is pretty amazing that he was able to do this. I found myself asking, “Did he really do this?”, and “How did he do that?”, several times during my latest reading. Well, the photos are there, so he must have done it.
One part I thought was very interesting was that he was taking several “selfies” at one of his camps. He wanted something “heroic “ for his future grandchildren. He was dissatisfied with each picture until finally, he got a picture of “A weather-beaten figure hunched over a map upon a desolate mountain slope “. He got several more with a sunset in the background and wrote, “I hoped my future grandchildren would be properly impressed with the old boy’s acting talent.” By now those grandchildren must have seen the photos, so I wonder, were they properly impressed?
July 15, 2012
What an inspiring story! Eric Ryback's adventure is way too cool to review. The story is gripping, mostly because it is true. He recounts his trek with simple prose that captures the survivalist atmosphere of his trip. However, Ryback also manages to convey the beauty and severity of nature. The pictures were a nice touch, but I would have liked even more details told in his fresh, straightforward voice. I felt like I was on a high adventure as I read it. I would recommend this book to any teenager thinking they have nothing to offer, any outdoorsperson, and any one who enjoys a grand adventure.
August 12, 2008
What could be cooler than to be the first person to hike Pacific Crest Trail. Wearing your short short Levi cut offs, 70s style! A fun read of this 18 year old's solo hiking adventure.
December 19, 2019
After reading Laurie Candler's Upwards describing her solo through paddle of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. I thought I would re-read Eric Ryback's story of his thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 1970. My copy of this book dates back to 1973 and I remember reading it years ago and loving the unique story of an 18 year old's summer adventure hiking from Canada to Mexico.
How different this journey of almost almost 50 years ago was compared to the numerous blogs describing the same trail today. Ryback's pack weighed 80 lbs when full compared to ultra light equipment that has reduced typical loads to more than half of that weight. Most every night Ryback lit a camp fire to warm himself physically and emotionally. There were far fewer town nights spent eating ice cream and burgers as a way to refresh. Almost 20 years before the first cell phones, Ryback battled loneliness and came to relish contact with fellow hikers and ranger staff.
Ryback's journey only included 5 resupply stops and maybe two other side trips to Mt. Rainier's summit and the Yosemite valley. Ryback was putting in big miles and chose to hike the June snow fields of Washington without crampons, micro-spikes or even an ice axe.
A large portion of the trail through the California Sierra was not officially mapped when Ryback took his hike. The US Forest Service asked Ryback to document his trail findings through this section so they could help plan the official route of the trail.
This book is a great historical document being one of the first to describe a modern North American thru-hike of one of the signature US trails.
How different this journey of almost almost 50 years ago was compared to the numerous blogs describing the same trail today. Ryback's pack weighed 80 lbs when full compared to ultra light equipment that has reduced typical loads to more than half of that weight. Most every night Ryback lit a camp fire to warm himself physically and emotionally. There were far fewer town nights spent eating ice cream and burgers as a way to refresh. Almost 20 years before the first cell phones, Ryback battled loneliness and came to relish contact with fellow hikers and ranger staff.
Ryback's journey only included 5 resupply stops and maybe two other side trips to Mt. Rainier's summit and the Yosemite valley. Ryback was putting in big miles and chose to hike the June snow fields of Washington without crampons, micro-spikes or even an ice axe.
A large portion of the trail through the California Sierra was not officially mapped when Ryback took his hike. The US Forest Service asked Ryback to document his trail findings through this section so they could help plan the official route of the trail.
This book is a great historical document being one of the first to describe a modern North American thru-hike of one of the signature US trails.
April 26, 2024
A very emotional read for me, as I hiked the PCT in 2021. It was surreal to hear about the treacherous falls, the food shortages, the extreme conditions that Ryback, the first ever to complete the PCT, endured. It was not long ago that adventure like this was only for the boldest risk takers. I loved the factual reporting, the plotless narrative that reminded me of my personal journal. The only thing that could have improved the experience for me was more rumination about the dessert, but I could tell that by that point in the hike he was ready to be done.
September 6, 2017
This was one of my favorite pre-college books. Well written and a pioneer among thru-hikers.
February 6, 2023
Chronicles the first thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Eric was a very intelligent, insightful, and reflective young man. Makes for some very interesting reading.
May 23, 2015
This is a unique story about an amazing hiking adventure from Canada to Mexico along the Pacific Crest. The young man was just in his late teens, and had already hiked the full legnth of the Appalachian Trail from South to North, when he decided to top that by hiking the Pacific Crest from North to South, Canada to Mexico.
I was just about the same age as Mr Ryback when I read the book for the first time, and greatly enjoyed the story. It is written quite well for a young author, and the narrative flows smoothly from the initial planning, caching materials at the appropriate locations along the route, and the day to day adventures of the trip. It is illustrated with photos by the author along the route, and the day to day story of the Hike contains appropriate detail information without becoming dull, along with some of the very intense and dangerous near mishaps he experiences. The author avoids any serious accident, and becomes a minor celebrity for completion of this hazardous and challenging hiking route.
From my current readers perspective 40 years later, this is still remembered as one of the better non-fiction books I have read. I do recommend this, especially to the younger readers.
I was just about the same age as Mr Ryback when I read the book for the first time, and greatly enjoyed the story. It is written quite well for a young author, and the narrative flows smoothly from the initial planning, caching materials at the appropriate locations along the route, and the day to day adventures of the trip. It is illustrated with photos by the author along the route, and the day to day story of the Hike contains appropriate detail information without becoming dull, along with some of the very intense and dangerous near mishaps he experiences. The author avoids any serious accident, and becomes a minor celebrity for completion of this hazardous and challenging hiking route.
From my current readers perspective 40 years later, this is still remembered as one of the better non-fiction books I have read. I do recommend this, especially to the younger readers.
December 18, 2012
I was really excited for this book, but it was such a disappointment that I didn't make it more than a couple dozen pages. I tried to read it in high school, when I was extremely excited about long distance backpacking. I was hoping for a story about a great hike, but Ryback only wants to tell us about a great hiker. By the first night I was cheering for the wolves to eat him. The other thing that really got me was when he said that he built a ground fire every night whether he needed it or not. I shut the book and haven't ever picked it up again.
February 20, 2009
Man, the days when hiking the PCT was life-threatening and unique. And required an 80lb pack!
June 17, 2013
Amazing trip; lousy writer. Give this one a pass.
September 13, 2013
Forget Cheryl Strayed. This is the real book about hiking the PCT. The first person to hike PCT-1970.
January 11, 2014
Read in my twenties when I met his mom at a conference. A lonely sport with beautiful vistas.
January 3, 2015
Great travel book and the best I've read on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail .
September 18, 2015
I loved his youth and enthusiasm. What a great adventure.
July 29, 2016
Pretty cool book. Easy to read. Great Adventure!!
December 9, 2016
This young man was driven by something he did NOT discuss. Why, why & again why was he so driven?
April 18, 2017
With all that is happening in the current world, what a delight to read about this amazing hike with 1970's gear (heavy packs and levi's!). What a great adventure!
April 22, 2019
I loved this book! I bought it in the 70's and have probably read it three times now. The writing is smooth and flowing, and the trail scenes are described well enough to make the reader feel as if they were there without being boring. When I find myself longing to be on the trail, I'll re-read this book again.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews