Tracking Giants: Big Trees, Tiny Triumphs, and Misadventures in the Forest

by Amanda Lewis

Readers of Cheryl Strayed's Wild will love this funny, deeply relatable book about one woman's quest to track some of the world's biggest trees.

When she first moved back west after nearly a decade away, Amanda Lewis was an overachieving, burned-out book editor most familiar with trees as dead blocks of paper. A dedicated "indoorswoman" she could barely tell a birch from a beech. But that didn't stop her from pledging to visit all of the biggest trees in British Columbia, a Canadian province known for its expensive yoga studios, Patagonia-wearing baristas, and ... extremely gigantic trees.

The "Champion" trees on Lewis's ambitious list ranged from mighty Western red-cedars to Douglas firs. They lived on remote islands and at the center of dense forests. The only problem? Well, there were many ... Climate change and a pandemic aside, Lewis's lack of wilderness experience, the upsetting reality of old-growth logging, the ever-changing nature of trees, and the pressures of her one-year timeframe complicated her quest.

Burned out again--and realizing that her "checklist" approach to life might be the problem--Lewis reframed her search for trees to something humbler and more meaningful: getting to know forests in an interconnected way.

Weaving in insights from writers and artists, Lewis uncovers what we're really after when we pursue big things--and reveals that sometimes it's the smaller joys, the mindsets we have, and the companions we're with, that make us feel more connected to the natural world.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Environment, Outdoors, Audiobook, Memoir, Ebooks

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2023

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time hearing of the BC Big Tree Registry, which exists to track champion trees. A champion is the largest known tree in a given species. The author writes about how she got into champion tree tracking and stories about looking for the champions. There’s a mix of facts, stats, and detailed descriptions of the trees and environments. There are also notes on indigenous teachings, and musings on the author’s life philosophy. It feels meandering at some points and info-dumpy at others, both of which made it hard for me to keep being interested, but I guess that’s kinda fitting for a nerdy book about wandering through forests.

I think this is a good book to read if you’re going to the spots listed in the book or really passionate about big trees.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried hard to like this book, but something missed the mark for me all the way through. I didn’t finish the book because of that.

[Isabella S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book! Recommend to anyone who loves to wander in the woods

[Harley Rustad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of blurbing this book: "A delightful and enlightening journey into the woods. Amanda Lewis treads so softly here, with wit and color, with care and passion, in an intimate exploration of how nature's magnificent expressions, regardless of size or title, hold enormous capacity to inspire."

[Nola Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the message about finding joy in failure. Amanda set out to see all 43 champion trees in BC only to realize that it was never truly in achievable because trees are mortal. Over time, she realized that the forest is a never ending story and tracking trees on a spreadsheet was preventing her from truly experiencing the glory of the forest.

Some cool learnings:

Did you know you can wiggle a giant tree and it will make the canopy move?

Tree tracking is a creative endeavour as much as it is scientific.

Collaboration makes everything more fun and successful. Amanda eventually realized that sharing her missteps and frustrations early on with fellow tree trackers could have alleviated her isolation in her big goal and helped others in their quests. Humour helps. The book is full of jokes. Tree trackers are nerds:)

Embracing your core skills and the things that made you happy as a pre-teen are sure fire ways to create a satisfying endeavour. Once Amanda let go of spreadsheets and measurement and leaned into her creativity and pattern recognition skills, that’s when she began to enjoy herself in the forest.

You can go into the forest alone but the forest is a network. You can emerge with a community. A group of likeminded people know far more than any individual.

[Adrineh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about trees, yes, but it's also more than that.

Amanda brings you on her journey of not only tracking Champions, but also questioning the quest for the biggest and for naming what has always been there (the connection with capitalism, patriarchy, and colonialism is not lost). You are with her at the beginning with her enthusiasm and rookie mistakes all the way to the end, where, like her, you acknowledge the impossible endeavour while appreciating what's really important: respecting the land, enjoying the company of friends, and learning along the way.

This book teaches you not to lose sight of the forest for the trees (pun intended), leaving me with a newfound interest in trees and a greater appreciation for the small things in life.

Mary Oliver, in one of her poems, wrote: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I think Amanda has found her answer. And her story reminds us to find our own.

[DaleE Boland · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. It didn't grab me; I couldn't get into it. I took it back to the library.

[Prasham Bhuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as we were traveling to BC. It was recommended on one of the Vancouver Island Reddit forums, and oh boy it is a wonderful find. I connect in a lot of ways with Amanda. Like her, I initially set out on hikes with an end goal but soon realized that being in nature is just being in nature. There are no kilometers covered, no speed per km, and no number of steps. It's about being engrossed and one with the surroundings so that the smallest movements of nature start to get noticed.

Amanda sets out on an amateur journey to track specific trees, called Giants, in Provincial BC. She is ill-prepared like any other adventurer but has a passion for trying new things and experimenting. Along the journey she realizes herself, and what the project of Tracking Giants is all about. Along the way, she makes friends and learns in depth about tree tracking and the tree tracking community. It's glad to see her name on the UBC's Big Tree Committee, along with others that you soon start to know.

The books took me to a lot of places that I had a chance to visit. From Stanley Park in Mainland to Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino, Nainamo, and coming back to Princeton, EC Manning Park, Sunshine Valley, regions near Squamish, Whistler. The giant Douglas fir, or the Red Ceddar, Qualicum falls, or Macmillian Park and the Cathedral Grove. There are many instances where I was standing at the same stop looking at the same trees as her, and the chapters have the power to take me back to the wilderness of BC, esp. Vancouver Island.

Recommend it to anyone who has been in that area, plans to visit, or is into looking, hugging, and spending time with trees. In memory of Randy Stoltmann, Vancouver Island, and the Old Growth, from one tree hugger to another. Thank you Amanda.

[litost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed how this memoir was about exploring nature in places I’m familiar with, Vancouver and other parts of British Columbia; and about getting to know forests in an interconnected way. I also liked Lewis’ humour (“I’d carefully wrapped my bear spray … in old underwear (itself a deterrent) …”) and her many literary references - it’s nice being left with a reading list! The book tends to ramble, but I can relate to her life lesson that the smaller joys, our mindset, and companions are more important than completing a checklist.

[Michael Schauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda takes us by the hand on a humbling, eye-opening quest to visit some of Western Canada’s remaining Elder trees, exploring the deep questions around the meaning and value we place on life, and the natural wonders that sustain us.

Highly recommend for those who care about our home.

[M. Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming and moving reminder to slow down, look up, and thank your neighbourhood trees.

[Ted Manahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir, meditation, inspiration. The world needs more people like Amanda Lewis.

[Irina Sementchoukova · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun read. I loved the adventure.

[Claire Gibson]

Not for me.

[Mary Ackenhusen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was amusing and had a good message about not seeing the forest for the trees. It was a bit longer to than necessary and redundant in some places.

[Indira · Rating 4 out of 5]

an eye opening book on the role of trees in our life and ecosystem - loved it!!

[Amelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed. Inspired me to explore my home province more.

[Deni Tani · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 50%
I like trees and I tried, but I just couldn’t stay interested.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Define tree—
(large vegetable,
(rising,
(one woody stem,
(towering height))))

Everything is A roll
(if you’re there
(to be aware))

What was gone
(may grow back;
(grasp a limb
(and change a life)

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/3.5

[Michael Citrino · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some interesting things to consider in this book. That being said, it can bog down at times.

[John Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. This book is a light hearted look at trees and our complicated relationship with them. With self-deprecating humour, Amanda Lewis takes us on a wandering quest, encountering tree trackers, conservationists and others. As a dedicated "indoors-woman" she braves the forests of British Columbia, Canada, to track, measure and ultimately enjoy and appreciate trees.

https://amandalewis.org/tracking-gian...

[Penn Kemp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely intro by Diana Beresford-Kroeger. Insights galore!

“bending the map describes our bias toward trusting our own immediate perceptions rather than a representation, making us believe we’re somewhere we’re not.”

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love!! This might just be one of my favorite books of all time! As a tree lover (and nerd) myself, I was immediately interested by the title and description (how did I NOT know that big tree tracking was a thing??). Lewis’ writing style got me hooked right away and I think this book reads like we were sitting down at a coffee shop together and I was just listening to her tell me all her stories. The way Lewis describes the environment is so comprehensive and, despite never having visited BC, I feel like I could picture all the areas she had visited. 12/10 will read again!