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Calculated Risk
Navigate by map and compass. Splint a broken bone. Start a fire in a rainstorm. No big deal for Samantha Wethersfield! She’s an Assistant Forest Ranger who knows the Adirondack High Peaks like the back of her hand.
The people in Sam’s life are pressuring her to make tough choices about the future. All at once her work, love-life, and home address are suddenly uncertain. She goes on one last backcountry adventure before making any big decisions. Sam needs time to think, but the wilderness unexpectedly gives her the biggest challenge of her life. As Sam uses all her skills and experience to stay alive, she comes to terms with the choices she needs to make. If Sam makes it out of the woods, she might just know what to do next!
Jen Denny is a conservationist, NYS Guide, and Adirondack 46er. She grew up in West Seneca, NY and was initially drawn to the Adirondack Mountains for school. Jen graduated from Paul Smith’s College in 2015 and went on to get a Master’s in Environmental Studies and Sustainability from Unity College in 2023. She currently manages the Stewardship Program at the Adirondack Watershed Institute. When Jen has a free weekend in summer, she spends time volunteering as a High Peaks Summit Steward for the Adirondack Mountain Club. Jen lives in Saranac Lake, NY with her husband Preston, and loves to cross-country ski, hike, and kayak.
The people in Sam’s life are pressuring her to make tough choices about the future. All at once her work, love-life, and home address are suddenly uncertain. She goes on one last backcountry adventure before making any big decisions. Sam needs time to think, but the wilderness unexpectedly gives her the biggest challenge of her life. As Sam uses all her skills and experience to stay alive, she comes to terms with the choices she needs to make. If Sam makes it out of the woods, she might just know what to do next!
Jen Denny is a conservationist, NYS Guide, and Adirondack 46er. She grew up in West Seneca, NY and was initially drawn to the Adirondack Mountains for school. Jen graduated from Paul Smith’s College in 2015 and went on to get a Master’s in Environmental Studies and Sustainability from Unity College in 2023. She currently manages the Stewardship Program at the Adirondack Watershed Institute. When Jen has a free weekend in summer, she spends time volunteering as a High Peaks Summit Steward for the Adirondack Mountain Club. Jen lives in Saranac Lake, NY with her husband Preston, and loves to cross-country ski, hike, and kayak.
182 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 4, 2025
I’ve been looking for so long for a book like this one, set in the High Peaks. What a joy to read. I enjoyed the amount of details related to the area and the trails, and I was able to relate to the MFC.
September 15, 2026
I met Jen recently at an event in the Adirondacks and enjoyed hearing her experience in the High Peaks, and authoring this book. As a debut novel, I enjoyed her ability to capture the specific beauty of the Adirondack mountains. I can only hope Sam ended up happy in the end!
September 19, 2026
Jen is a wonderful person, and it was so fun to read this while following along with a map. I would love a sequel!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews