Thirst

February 15, 2019
Some in the trail-hiking community were dubious when Anderson, an ultramarathoner in her early 30s with scant trail-racing credibility, dared to attempt to break Scott Williamson's speed record for hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). In 2013, Anderson (whose trail name is Anish) proved all the naysayers wrong, completing the 2,650-mile trek, which runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington, in 60 days, 17 hours, and 12 minutes, beating Williamson's FKT (fastest known time) by four days. How does someone go from an overweight high-schooler to a record-breaking endurance hiker? Certainly not by the conventional route. Averaging 40-plus miles a day, despite dehydration, sleep deprivation, and nighttime encounters with wild animals, Anderson simply never stops walking. Along the trail, she makes peace with her recent divorce and her decision to shuck societal pressure in order to live a nontraditional lifestyle. For her, a purposeful life means to dream big, live courageously, and move in sync with nature.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)