Thru and Back Again: A Hiker's Journey on the North Country Trail

by Luke Jordan

Luke Jordan grew up on a farm in central Minnesota where he spent much of his childhood running around outdoors. His favorite and most inspirational place to visit was the North Shore of Lake Superior. He was awe-struck by the beauty of the region, and soon started venturing out on his own. During his college years he began backpacking and in 2012 he graduated with a natural resources degree and decided to pursue a dream that had been almost three years in the making. With his college years behind him, he was ready to strap on his pack and attempt a grand adventure over the North Country National Scenic Trail. He succeeded, and became the fourth person to successfully thru-hike the trail. Follow along as he traverses this trail of great diversity from the vast plains of North Dakota to the high peaks of the Adirondacks.

Genres: Nonfiction

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2017

Reviews

[David Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a hiker that lives along the NCT I was so excited to find this book. The reader should not be looking lyrical descriptors. Prose are frank and simple. This direct journal like account of trail life, but more importantly an example of real determination.

[Jessie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! I was surprised to learn that he was only the 4th through-hiker. I live in Michigan and have seen signs for NCT my whole life and figured I just didn’t know much about it, being from a more urban area. But it always had a mystique, and the signs were in the loveliest areas. My brief hikes on them always got me thinking of Tolkien’s books too, and what a challenge to be on the road like that day after day; what a different, magical life, but what hardships!

It took me a while to read because I did not want to finish it. Maybe I had some “reader response”, a description of literary technique when the writing evokes a particular feeling in the reader. At about 90% through, I put it down for over a month. Then at the end, he talks about post-trail depression, which I hadn’t heard about before, but seems like maybe i was getting a certain feeling of not wanting things to be over; makes some sense tof my experience reading.

It also made me aware that official hikes could include “road hikes”, which was a new concept to me. I recall coming across a person hiking along a highway when I was on a road trip in North Dakota. I was totally dumbfounded as the person had a giant pack, which was something I had not really seen. Although I was out camping myself, it was in a grassier part of ND, and I could not fathom what the person was doing. I felt really bad for the person, as I could not even recall the nearest town, but felt vulnerable traveling as a woman to help, but also confused: why would a homes person walking along th road have an expansive backpacking pack? Then I started worrying about how hard it would be to be a homeless person in remote ND and not only how do they survive the hot summers, but how do they survive the brutal winters? What a different parallel universe! I wish I would have pulled over to ask (and perhaps the hikers explanation would have been some trail magic for me!) but my urban instincts kept me fearful and from reaching out! I might have been able to be a source of trail magic and learned about this parallel universe sooner!

Strider name seems to fit him well, except perhaps a tad friendlier than the original; (& I have read The Hobbit and LOTR nearly annually since age 10!), but his journey seems a bit mysterious to those in the everyday life. As in Tolkien’s books, Strider seems a bit mysterious and just doesn’t quite fit in, he also may look disheveled and dangerous at times, but he has a magical alter identity and those who opened themselves up to him got to find out what an intriguing person he is, and with a goal to help the world: by creating awareness for a special time and place!

He didn’t mean to do it, but he accidentally made many of the books I have read about the AT seem like written by big whimps (which I could not really put into words, since i have too many health problems and I do not think I could physically do it) notable exception Grandma Gatewood. But I guess that’s what growing up in Rivendell does for the rest of us from Hobbiton (maybe I’m from Breetown though). The only problem is that it has pretty much ruined reading AT trail stories for me. The AT through hikers seem like they are accomplishing great feats for themselves, which I totally support, but many of them seem to be people who have lived quite fortunate lives, looking for a challenge: no illness, few life adverse events until trying the AT (some even seem to be the source of their biggest problems). One I am reading now, it seems like his biggest life challenge is how it’s hard to go 3 days without eating fast food or sleeping in a hotel and seems very complainy; it’s odd, because he really appreciates the meals, but the tone of that book is somehow different, like it just makes him appreciate his bourgeois life more. It is a stark contrast to Strider, who appreciates Everything, including his meals at restaurants and nights in hotels, but also appreciates the shelters and seems to appreciate the connections and random kindness of strangers more than the comforts; but it comes across quite differently. Maybe because his goal is not necessarily to have a notable life experience, but to raise awareness, perhaps an elevated and more selfless goal from most of us?

In contrast, maybe because he is from Middle Earth, Strider barely complains, and somehow seems to enjoy the challenges. Also having to plan a hike where you have to hike for days n snowshoes, rain, heat, and having to bushwhack trail and get chased by mean dogs seriously is not something too many AT trail stories have. A lot f the ppl writing books seem like they don’t have any connection to the natural world until they start hiking, which gets a bit old after a while. And he never comes across as complaining, but always grateful.

He alludes to his website. I read book on kindle and I could not find him easily on google to follow. I am not that great with computers and I haven’t been able to find his actual website to see which goals he has met and which he is working on at this time.

This book certainly accomplishes its goal: spreading awareness for the NCT. I picked up this book while I was in recovery from breast cancer. I looked up NCT online and I’m looking forward to trying the 100 mile challenge for 2022 once I fully recover. It even has me thinking about going on social media to promote awareness for the trail and all the cool people who volunteer to maintain trails, so others of us can live in cities, but still have pleasant outdoor activities during our time off from work. What a service you all do for the unwitting masses!

Thank you Strider, for your journey and kindness and thoughtfulness in writing this very approachable book. You opened my eyes not only to the NCT, but how to reframe my views of the world, looking for opportunities of “trail magic” and the basic goodness of most people, instead of seeing only the failures of our social networks.

[Nathan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is the trail journal of the 4th person to ever through-hike the North Country Trail, which goes from western North Dakota and goes to western Vermont, covering over 4500 miles. While the writing isn't stellar, it's fascinating, especially to people like me whose hiking experience is all west of the Rockies, and mostly on and in the vicinity of the Pacific Crest Trail. Man, hiking back east is WAY different than hiking out here! And in all sorts of ways that I'll leave you to discover as you read through his account yourself. His journey makes my own mishaps out on the trail seem pretty minor. Alas, I'm not terribly motivated to hike the NCT, unfortunately, but more power to those who do!

[Nichole]

This trail journal is a day by day account of Luke's thru-hike from North Dakota to Vermont on the NCT in 2013. I enjoyed reading about the variety of landscapes, maintained/unmaintained trail, and wildlife he came across on different sections of the trail. It did start to feel a bit repetitive - hike, get lost, experience trail magic, and repeat; but still an interesting read nonetheless. In fact, he's inspired me to consider thru-hiking the whole state of Michigan one day.

[Jackie Fokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trail lovers will love this book

It is very descriptive, well written, easy to read and to connect to. Luke Jordan is a physically and mentally strong person we can all learn from.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Day to day journal of thru hike of North Country Trail, covering six states.

[Pamela Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a hiker, if you have thought about hiking, or if you live in ND, MN, WI, MI, OH, PA, NY, or VT and would like a hiker's view from the North Country Trail (NTC) as he hikes through this is a book for you. I live in MI and I have been to most of the towns Luke hiked through including two I own houses in and I found his observations from a foot path perspective fascinating. I live a half a block off the White Pine Trail, the NCT adjoins this through part of MI and it was interesting to me that in walking the NCT Strider walk right past my house. The descriptions of his hike remind you that we are more connected than we realize. I think most folks reading this book would walk away with a new perspective of how big and yet how connected the great and varied land mass is we call home. Thank you Luke for taking this hike and for writing this book so we might all come along for the walk.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A massive accomplishment and, for the most part, a well-written account. By the time Strider got to Michigan, however, I was hoping for a change. The story is presented journal-style with each day on the trail given a short review. After about 100 pages, however, this gets monotonous. He wakes up, he hikes, he meets some supporters and he goes to bed. Each day blends into the next (perhaps the narrative was meant to put the reader in the thru-hiker's frame of mind?) and I found myself wishing for the end of the hike (and the book). Never a good thing. Ultimately, if you're interested in the subject matter, you'll find this interesting. (One small, perhaps petty, request: find a synonym for the word "hence". I swear it occurs 200-300 times in this book.)

[Jennifer Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for hiking enthusiasts, particularly those who enjoy the North Country Trail (NCT). I loved reading about the sections I have hiked, and was inspired to make a point of seeking out some of its sections further from home. One of the big differences between the NCT and other long trails is that there are many areas that offer no shelters or legal camping—I enjoyed the author’s reflections on the “trail angels” who helped him out by offering their yards, couches and guest rooms. This book reads differently from many of the trail memoirs I’ve read in part because of the author’s numerous interactions with locals. A very entertaining read!

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have hiked only a very tiny portion of the North Country Trail. Luke ‘Strider’ Jordan’s book gives a day-to-day account of the challenges and experiences he experienced in hiking over 4500 miles of this incredible trail. If you like to hike, I’d highly recommend it.