I would hardly call myself an athlete. I work out regularly and do my fair share of yoga and hiking, yet all my life I have been surrounded by sports and fitness. To be a true athlete, one must have endurance, the will to carry on despite whatever unfortunate circumstances come in the way of succeeding.
In the exciting, daring, brave and shocking novel, Wild, Cheryl Strayed illustrates her growth within her own endurance, and how this alone led her up the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) – a treacherous hike that begins at the bottom of California, and concludes at the border of Washington and Canada. Although Strayed only hikes 960 miles of the PCT, she endures much more than an average hiker might. Prior to the hike, she suffers the loss of her mother, a heartbreaking divorce, and isolation from her close family and friends. She is torn. She is broken. She is lost.
Throughout the 311 pages of this self-reflective memoir, Cheryl Strayed admits her highest of highs, and her lowest of lows. She breaks down any façade that a novelist might attempt, and gives her real self to the reader. Flaws included.
Personally, I am a huge fan of autobiographies. I find it extremely refreshing when an author is comfortable enough to let their reader get to know them on an honest, and maybe even unpleasant level. By the end of this book, I genuinely feel as if I know Cheryl as a friend. I know her strengths, I know her weaknesses, I know her insecurities and I know her fears. But, most importantly, I really feel as though I too could hike the PCT – just hear me out.
A hike is a hike. I have hiked easy trails, and I have hiked difficult trails. It’s never a race, and it is simply determined upon an individual’s personal strength and endurance. To hike the Pacific Crest Trail, you are required to organize your travels a little bit more, simply in order to survive. Cheryl documents her sporadic placement of care packages throughout her hike, containing money, food, and the occasional notes from friends.
Besides the organizational element, the task is simple; stay on the trail. The PCT is constantly filled with energetic hikers, so there are bound to be helpers along the way.
Cheryl Strayed is fearless, independent, and bold – a testament to her dependent, needy and insecure previous self. She takes her life by the reigns and turns it all around for the better, and does so by conquering the Pacific Crest Trail. She proves that with little to no backpacking experience, anyone is able to pursue their dreams, regardless of whatever struggle may come their way.
Read it, learn it, love it. This book is one of a kind, and while you may find yourself online shopping for high-tech hiking boots, it will all be worth it. Challenge yourself. Take that extra step. If Cheryl can, we all can.
