What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unlikeliest Backpacker: From Office Desk to Wilderness
You reach a certain age. You have a lifestyle many would envy. Still, something doesn't feel right. Life has become routine. You sense there is more out there to experience and explore with an urge gnawing away inside to do something different. But what? Before you know it, plans have snowballed - you've quit your city job and flown to America to begin life living in the wilderness, walking hundreds of miles with no income. 'The Unlikeliest Backpacker' chronicles a British couple's absurd journey as aspiring long-distance hikers. With Canada hundreds of miles away, they must learn to backpack and survive on the famous Pacific Crest Trail. How hard can it be? Kathryn Barnes' entertaining memoir proves you don't have to be special, or an experienced adventure junkie to put your life on hold, disconnecting from the modern world. Pushing personal boundaries beyond the predictability of daily routine can have surprising consequences.
- GenresTravel
304 pages, Paperback
Published March 7, 2019
27 people are currently reading
82 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 8, 2019
Some people are happy with routine in their lives and have found a balance between working and relaxing that suits them. Kathryn Barnes and her husband, Conrad weren’t those people though. Something didn’t feel right they had travelled in the past for fairly big chunks of time, and the call to see more of the world was beckoning again. A germ of an idea grew larger and before they knew it they had quit their jobs and booked a flight to the West Coast of America to walk 1000 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail or PCT as it is normally known
There was one tiny issue though, they hadn’t got any experience of hiking. Or camping. Inexperienced would be an understatement, they are city birds and have barely walked anywhere unless they could help it. This wouldn’t be the whole route though, they were just going to walk the section from northern California, through Oregon and Washington and just over the Canadian border. Not only would they have to carry everything on their backs, but the route they were walking was known for mountain lions and bears.
Even though they were departing in June they knew as soon as they got to the higher altitudes there would be snow, it was going to be a steep learning curve in more ways that one. Starting off with small daily mileages as their stamina and experience grew they were able to build the distance they could travel over the course of the trek. The views were spectacular, and so were the midges… They encountered all sorts of characters on their walk, from the warm and generous people that helped them out when they needed it with spare kit and lifts to the very occasional sinister individual. One person though who pops up most days is Dan as they seem to roughly keep pace with him.
I did like this book, as it had a certain charm to it. Barnes is quite honest in her writing and is prepared to tell it how it is, from the highs of standing at the top of the passes, drinking in the views and letting the peace of the woods soak into their psyche to the very low points when they squabbled over the most trivial of things. Even though they didn’t walk the entire trail, it has made her reconsider all her priorities. Some of what they learnt as a couple she shares at the end of the book, especially the essential tip to appreciate it as you pass through. There are practical details and links for those wanting to undertake a similar experience. It has made them think about their relationship with the wider world, and seriously think about leaving London. I did feel that the book was missing photos of their walk, they obviously took lots as it is mentioned fairly often in the text. There are some on her website though: https://alifetowander.com/category/pa...
There was one tiny issue though, they hadn’t got any experience of hiking. Or camping. Inexperienced would be an understatement, they are city birds and have barely walked anywhere unless they could help it. This wouldn’t be the whole route though, they were just going to walk the section from northern California, through Oregon and Washington and just over the Canadian border. Not only would they have to carry everything on their backs, but the route they were walking was known for mountain lions and bears.
Even though they were departing in June they knew as soon as they got to the higher altitudes there would be snow, it was going to be a steep learning curve in more ways that one. Starting off with small daily mileages as their stamina and experience grew they were able to build the distance they could travel over the course of the trek. The views were spectacular, and so were the midges… They encountered all sorts of characters on their walk, from the warm and generous people that helped them out when they needed it with spare kit and lifts to the very occasional sinister individual. One person though who pops up most days is Dan as they seem to roughly keep pace with him.
I did like this book, as it had a certain charm to it. Barnes is quite honest in her writing and is prepared to tell it how it is, from the highs of standing at the top of the passes, drinking in the views and letting the peace of the woods soak into their psyche to the very low points when they squabbled over the most trivial of things. Even though they didn’t walk the entire trail, it has made her reconsider all her priorities. Some of what they learnt as a couple she shares at the end of the book, especially the essential tip to appreciate it as you pass through. There are practical details and links for those wanting to undertake a similar experience. It has made them think about their relationship with the wider world, and seriously think about leaving London. I did feel that the book was missing photos of their walk, they obviously took lots as it is mentioned fairly often in the text. There are some on her website though: https://alifetowander.com/category/pa...
March 7, 2019
Hiking from Norther CALIFORNIA through into CANADA
The Unlikeliest Backpacker describes an epic adventure. Kathryn Barnes and her husband, Conrad Nicholas, decide to abandon their one bedroom flat in London and head for the great outdoors. They plan to hike the 935 miles from northern California, through Oregon and Washington, to the Canadian border – all along the Pacific Crest Trail (a sort of path that varies in quality, and varies in altitude from sea level to 7,000 feet). It promises to be gruelling… Even though they aim to leave in June, there is going to be to be a fair amount of snow on the way on the high ground. And a fair amount of heat (and mosquitos) on the low ground.
Kathryn and Conrad are not experienced hikers, but they learn quickly – and build up to covering around 20 miles a day. Not at all bad in the very adverse terrain.
The Unlikeliest Backpacker is an inspiring story. It shows how two people can learn very quickly to cope with the hardship they face. They make friends along the route, and learn a great deal about themselves and their relationship under stress. There is a section at the end of the book where Kathryn sets out some of the learning for us to share.
For me, though, The Unlikeliest Backpacker is more likely to be a specialist rather than a generalist book. To read once about the problems of peeing or pooing by the track (with bear and mountain lion paw prints in attendance), about the absolute – and understandable – focus on water and food, about the equal focus on showering and clean clothes, about the tribulations of trudging through snowfields or up ridiculously steep tracks, or about the weight of their backpacks, is probably enough to give me an idea of what they put themselves through. The constant repetition of such experiences is probably more for the hiking or camping aficionado. Although, they absolutely have my admiration and support for what they achieved.
Very interesting at the end when they try to re-orient themselves to London life. The noise, hassle, and crowds of the big city are very different to the peace they have recently experienced. They have both caught the bug for the outdoor life.
The Unlikeliest Backpacker describes an epic adventure. Kathryn Barnes and her husband, Conrad Nicholas, decide to abandon their one bedroom flat in London and head for the great outdoors. They plan to hike the 935 miles from northern California, through Oregon and Washington, to the Canadian border – all along the Pacific Crest Trail (a sort of path that varies in quality, and varies in altitude from sea level to 7,000 feet). It promises to be gruelling… Even though they aim to leave in June, there is going to be to be a fair amount of snow on the way on the high ground. And a fair amount of heat (and mosquitos) on the low ground.
Kathryn and Conrad are not experienced hikers, but they learn quickly – and build up to covering around 20 miles a day. Not at all bad in the very adverse terrain.
The Unlikeliest Backpacker is an inspiring story. It shows how two people can learn very quickly to cope with the hardship they face. They make friends along the route, and learn a great deal about themselves and their relationship under stress. There is a section at the end of the book where Kathryn sets out some of the learning for us to share.
For me, though, The Unlikeliest Backpacker is more likely to be a specialist rather than a generalist book. To read once about the problems of peeing or pooing by the track (with bear and mountain lion paw prints in attendance), about the absolute – and understandable – focus on water and food, about the equal focus on showering and clean clothes, about the tribulations of trudging through snowfields or up ridiculously steep tracks, or about the weight of their backpacks, is probably enough to give me an idea of what they put themselves through. The constant repetition of such experiences is probably more for the hiking or camping aficionado. Although, they absolutely have my admiration and support for what they achieved.
Very interesting at the end when they try to re-orient themselves to London life. The noise, hassle, and crowds of the big city are very different to the peace they have recently experienced. They have both caught the bug for the outdoor life.
January 2, 2023
I loved this book, it was written from the heart and showed what it was like on trail (the hood and the bad). I’m hiking the PCT myself in April 2023 so I found the lessons learned at the back extremely helpful.
Well done to Kathryn, Conrad, Dan, Mark and the late Steve.
Well done to Kathryn, Conrad, Dan, Mark and the late Steve.
March 27, 2023
At the start I didn't think I would enjoy this book as I found Barnes a bit whingy. But that was partly the story and I soon became a fan. I'm inspired to look at some long treksbin UK. The advice at the end is very helpful.
August 5, 2023
The title is very appropriate.
This is a lovely book about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Kathryn has a wicked sense of humour and I absolutely enjoyed the way she described the journey that she and Conrad undertook, each section of the trail given its own narrative and observations. I would very much have liked to been able to view pictures of the journey as in several places she refers to the fact that she has taken a photograph or a video, if you’re reading this review, Kathryn, I did look on your Instagram page but couldn’t find very much from this trip. Anyone who has never hiked before and fancies doing a long or even a short hike should read this book for inspiration of how it can be achieved.
This is a lovely book about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Kathryn has a wicked sense of humour and I absolutely enjoyed the way she described the journey that she and Conrad undertook, each section of the trail given its own narrative and observations. I would very much have liked to been able to view pictures of the journey as in several places she refers to the fact that she has taken a photograph or a video, if you’re reading this review, Kathryn, I did look on your Instagram page but couldn’t find very much from this trip. Anyone who has never hiked before and fancies doing a long or even a short hike should read this book for inspiration of how it can be achieved.
December 3, 2019
Kathryn and her husband Conrad are on a beach holiday when Kathryn suggests they should hike the Pacific Crest Trail in the US. But, Kathryn, a Londoner, hates camping and no experience of hiking……so obviously they decide to do it….
This is the honest tale of their adventures and misadventures, how they risk their health, lives and marriage. A tense, exciting adventure meeting some great and not so great characters along the way. Thoroughly entertaining.
Thank you to Kelly at Love Books Group for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, the promotional material and a free copy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
This is the honest tale of their adventures and misadventures, how they risk their health, lives and marriage. A tense, exciting adventure meeting some great and not so great characters along the way. Thoroughly entertaining.
Thank you to Kelly at Love Books Group for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, the promotional material and a free copy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
October 14, 2020
At the end, the author claims the hiking trip was a "refreshing, uplifting experience". This doesn't match to the experiences described throughout the book which is mostly conveyed as "personal hell".
I liked that the couple were inexperienced and made a few errors which they explained, and that she didn't sugar coat their hiking relationship. I hated her use of the word "gotten". Yes I assume the book would have an American audience but their USP on the trail was as "The Brits" and they should have stuck to British English.
I liked that the couple were inexperienced and made a few errors which they explained, and that she didn't sugar coat their hiking relationship. I hated her use of the word "gotten". Yes I assume the book would have an American audience but their USP on the trail was as "The Brits" and they should have stuck to British English.
November 25, 2021
Kathryn and her husband Conrad decide to take a break from the rat race to hike the Pacific Coast Trail up the western ridge of Us up to Canada. I never really understood why or what they got out of it other than a sense of achievement. An endless litany of different mountains and lakes together with aces pains and blisters. I never really took to the author. They seem so selfish. They did not even try to raise money for charity. They seem so shallow. All that time together I am not sure I got to know Conrad. Very disappointing
October 18, 2020
This is a solid thru-hiking memoir of two Brits who decide to hike the Oregon and Washington part of the PCT. PCT memoirs vary in their focus and quality but I have always enjoyed taking the journey with them and root for them to make it to the end and to learn about their struggles and growth along the way.
September 7, 2024
British and bluntly honest
I love this Brits account of hiking a good chunk of the PCT. The highs and lows were covered in humourous detail and in particular I really enjoyed reading about the aftermath of such an adventure and how it affected them on their return to London. A really great read!
I love this Brits account of hiking a good chunk of the PCT. The highs and lows were covered in humourous detail and in particular I really enjoyed reading about the aftermath of such an adventure and how it affected them on their return to London. A really great read!
October 14, 2024
A useful introduction to the trials and pleasures of hiking the PCT
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews