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In the Path of Young Bulls: An Odyssey on America's Continental Divide Trail
After completIng thru-hikes of the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, Tom Jamrog rises up out of his retirement rocking chair to invite three members of the AT and PCT’s MeGaTex team to join him on the ultimate multigenerational vacation. In the Path of Young Bulls details a team’s five-month-long stint of daily challenges along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, one of the America's toughest long-distance journeys. The book also is a resource for section and long-distance hikers in planning their own CDT adventures, by including daily mileages from starting and ending locations, as well as on- trail reports and conditions for each day’s hike.
- GenresTravel
263 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 13, 2019
This was my first book on the CDT, and it was a good introduction. The author chronicled his third long trail journey, following the AT and PCT. From Mexico to Canada more or less following the continental divide, the author and his crew, abbreviated MeGaTex, traverse everything from barren desert to pristine national parks. The book is not so much a narrative as a journal, with daily summaries detailing beginning and end points, mileage, and notable events. Notable events include sights, wildlife, encounters with others (hikers or not), and often food.
The journey was interesting but not one that anyone else could duplicate, at least not the last third. MeGaTex had a great deal of skill, luck, and good networking to make the trip happen. Skill you can develop. Luck may or may not be present. The network they had will rarely be matched.
The AT is well defined. The PCT is mainly well defined. The CDT not so much. There were times when they were lost, other times when the trail was not clearly marked, and other times when they had to be rerouted due to fire or other issues. He was specific with foods, equipment, and maps, and while some of the descriptions ran together in my mind, I got a good feel for the trail and life on it.
The last 30 or so pages suffered from lack of proofreading, but overall it was solid. He also tended to get increasingly philosophical piling on the quotes from Buddha, Muhammad Ali, and C.S. Lewis as the trip approached its conclusion.
Being my only book on the CDT, I say it was worthwhile. He did a nice job talking about the trail, and the differences between the states are really obvious.
While not approaching the narrative punch of "A Walk in the Woods" or "Wild," this is a solid introduction to the least traveled Triple Crown trail.
The journey was interesting but not one that anyone else could duplicate, at least not the last third. MeGaTex had a great deal of skill, luck, and good networking to make the trip happen. Skill you can develop. Luck may or may not be present. The network they had will rarely be matched.
The AT is well defined. The PCT is mainly well defined. The CDT not so much. There were times when they were lost, other times when the trail was not clearly marked, and other times when they had to be rerouted due to fire or other issues. He was specific with foods, equipment, and maps, and while some of the descriptions ran together in my mind, I got a good feel for the trail and life on it.
The last 30 or so pages suffered from lack of proofreading, but overall it was solid. He also tended to get increasingly philosophical piling on the quotes from Buddha, Muhammad Ali, and C.S. Lewis as the trip approached its conclusion.
Being my only book on the CDT, I say it was worthwhile. He did a nice job talking about the trail, and the differences between the states are really obvious.
While not approaching the narrative punch of "A Walk in the Woods" or "Wild," this is a solid introduction to the least traveled Triple Crown trail.
November 10, 2021
Thomas Jamrog has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail then did the Pacific Crest Trail. Now he is on to his biggest adventure the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). This challenge he will do as a group with his close hiking friends is called MeGaTex. This trail is one of the toughest long-distance hikes in the country and will take them five months.
Along with their story, the book also serves as a resource for section hiking the CDT trail.
Along with their story, the book also serves as a resource for section hiking the CDT trail.
June 12, 2019
Really terrific
Well written, thoughtful, interesting. It is also really informativs, giving good ideas about what it would take to do this sort of expedition. Wish I had hiking friends like his.
Well written, thoughtful, interesting. It is also really informativs, giving good ideas about what it would take to do this sort of expedition. Wish I had hiking friends like his.
May 12, 2019
Kinda got left hanging did Train get new shoes in East Glacier? 😉
April 8, 2020
Well written
Tom did a great job telling his story and giving an accurate depiction of what life is like on CDT. Can’t wait to hike it!
Tom did a great job telling his story and giving an accurate depiction of what life is like on CDT. Can’t wait to hike it!
August 27, 2020
Not bad overall. An interesting journal of the trip, but the CDT itself does not sound like a route I’d want to do - lots of forest roads.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews