The Hard Way: Stories of Danger, Survival, and the Soul of Adventure

by Mark Jenkins

Adventure writer Mark Jenkins has journeyed around the world, crossing wild country, probing the hinterlands, getting arrested over a dozen times. He has made a life out of doing things the hard way.
The result is a book that dives headfirst into adventure and experience. Jenkins transports the reader with him as he climbs the ice-encrusted Italian Ridge of the Matterhorn, sea kayaks from battlefield to battlefield along the Turkish coast of Gallipoli, sneaks across Tibet to reach Buddhism's holiest lake, descends unexplored canyons in Australia, and traverses the war-torn Simen Mountains of northern Ethiopia.
If you've ever dreamed of escaping, lighting out for the unknown, read this book. In a world increasingly vicarious and secondhand, we all long to make decisions that matter, decisions of consequence. This is precisely what the outdoor life still requires. The Hard Way is a book about doing, not watching -- about leaping before you look.

Genres: Adventure, Travel, Nonfiction, Mountaineering, Outdoors, Nature, Memoir

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of Jenkins. The guy just does crazy adventures and he's a phenominal writer. I've got a chronic case of wanderlust as it is, but his books are cranking it up a notch for me. If I suddenly drop off the face of the earth, it's because I stole a kayak, paddled up the inside package, and attempted a first ascent on some unnamed peak in the Yukon. Just to warn you.

[Lee Kuiper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often struggle to feel engaged while reading books. It is not uncommon for me to have to read three chapters before I feel any hint of engagement. So it was such a treat to pick up a book of short stories (essays?) where I was consistently being hooked within a page or two of each story. The stories don’t always start where a typical adventure story would start, nor do they contain all the typical elements and structures, nor do they end where you might expect, yet they all are captivating. Some of the stories aren’t even about anything overly exciting or thrilling (doing pull ups, hitchhiking) but are told in a unique and engaging way. Absolutely solid writing.

Secretly I was hoping all the stories would be about climbing and mountaineering…was hoping the stories would be longer…was hoping the stories would all be edge-of-the-seat adventure… but, ultimately, I wasn’t disappointed when the climbing stories were sparse, the stories were quite short, and the stories were not always exhilarating.

Mark has a powerful grasp of the English language and knows how to tell an interesting story. I would trust him to write elegantly about more banal topics so it’s especially enjoyable when he writes about something I’m passionate about: getting out into the real world and all the inevitable adventure that awaits. He reminds us that sometimes it’s not actually about about the thrilling aspect of the adventure; it can be about the little things along the way and the people we share them with.

Ultimately, while reading The Hard Way I felt hungry to read more and hungry to get out and go for a hike. As Mark says, “The wild man that lurks within every human was beginning to stretch.”

[Rupa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would give it 6 stars if I could. He's an adventurer and a clear, concise writer who takes you to ground zero. Works for Nat Geo. The book is a collection of his essays about his various travels. He writes well, simply and from the heart, focusing on the experience more than the achievements. His achievements are mind blowing (Everest, Matterhorn, bike across Africa, bike across Western Europe (twice), across Eastern Europe, multiple first ascents etc) but he is modest about all that. He clearly loves nothing more than pitting him self against the worst of nature and wilderness and lucky for us, has come home (till now) to write about it. Very satisfying book, I think any outdoors person would enjoy it tremendously. (How is this guy not a household name??)

[John Wyss · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of the book I would give 5 stars. The middle part was good, but mostly about mountain climbing as opposed to general travel stories like the first part. It got a little tiresome reading about climbing for 100 pages, but that is not something I am really interested in. The vignette, The Bike Messenger, in the first section is a beautiful story, and with out a doubt my favorite in the entire book.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Jenkins was a longtime writer for Outside Magazine. This is a fun collection of some of his best stories, recounting his globetrotting adventures and near death experiences (of which there are several). Recommended.

[anarresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenkins is a very compelling writer and these generally short essays are vivid descriptions of great places, people or experiences. Some are fairly technical (I am not an outdoor adventurer) but all were interesting.

[Jean Dupenloup · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent climbing adventure/memoir.

Mr. Jenkins’ book is enjoyable despite the lack of structure from one story to he next.

However, the book is entertaining without being unforgettable.

A decent read not destined for greatness.

[J Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about adventure I've ever read. So good. Be swift. Don't whine. Try you hardest!
Great messages.

[Chris Wristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tales of adventure; quick stories in short chapters; colorful writing; very easy reading; loved it. Now where's my backpack? I wanna go climb a mountain!

[Greg Golz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate that this was a collection of short stories. Most adventure writers think they have entire novels of their event, but they just get stale.

[Harri Lammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories are awesome; varied and well-written. The edition is strangely big, this should be a regular paperback but it's definitely not, it's more than double the size. Quite inconvenient.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories, well-written, sardonic and exciting. I love outdoor activities, but I'm fine just reading about the crazy, cold choices of this mountaineer.

[Mark Shannon]

Whether he's soloing the east face of a mountain in South America or instructing the reader in the lost art of hitching a ride across the country, Mark Jenkins is an amiable guide to the adventure-filled life. As a veteran of magazines such as Outside and Men's Health, the author does a wonderful job of putting us in the thick of the wilderness. The stories collected here include accounts of kayak journeys along the coastal battle sites of World War I and a brief but informative description of the life of George Mallory, the British mountain climber who lead the expedition to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in 1924. The author also recounts personal stories about the strong bonds he has with his three brothers and how he introduces his children into a life spent in the wilderness. This book is a wonderful tonic for armchair enthusiasts who want to know what if feels like and allows them to go on an expedition in the comfort of their favorite reading space.

[Alice Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hard Way is a book in the 3rd person, about a real guy called Mark Jenkins. He tells stories about when he was mountaineering and traveling around the world. These stories are partly about family, partly about survival. Also, he writes about events that happened in those places long ago. There are many themes such as adventure, adrenaline, family, survival, self-discovery, etc. So, I give 5 stars to this book because of all of these aspects. I recommend it to you.

[Scott Reisig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of my favorites from 2007 - Mark Jenkins lives in our neck of the wood, but he has been all over the globe seeking adventure.

His stories are funny, thought-provoking, and touching. He often blends the story of the adventure with the life lessons he takes away from the experience.

A very talented writer - many of his stories can be found at: www.thehardway.com.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a collection of short stories about this guy's mountaineering adventures. I like books written by mountain climbers - they take me places I'll never go and do things I don't want to do because mountaineering sounds like a fancy word for painful drudgery. There's something to be admired in that.

[Chris Devenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

To this day, this may be my favorite adventure book I've ever read. Mark is a bad ass. After reading this, I developed a suspicion/distaste towards people with new gear, or people who complain in any way, or even people who can't find a certain type of joy when things go wrong. I've packed less and have had a more open attitude towards doing it the hard way since reading this a few years ago.

[Bpwillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is great for anyone who loves the outdoors. It is a collection of different stories from Mark's life as an adventure writer. They range from spiritual and retrospective to humorous. Some of the ones in the last section might bring a tear to your eye.

[Sebastien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short stories of travel adventures.
Makes you want to get your backpack and hit the road.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

He sees his world with such clarity.

[Alec · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, fairly exciting book but with a bit more moralizing and a bit less action than I might have liked.

[Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. I'm going to go quit my job and climb mountains now. If you'd like inspiration to do the same, ask me to borrow this book.

[Lindsaylu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Jenkins is the best Crazy Outdoor Jewel to ever come out of Laramie and write about his trials. Dang.

[Tim Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Art]

- four stars from Austin