Thru: literary essays on life and long-distance hiking
Date
2016
Authors
Moore, Stewart, author
Calderazzo, John, advisor
Thompson, Debby, committee member
Kodrich, Kris, committee member
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Abstract
"Thru: Literary Essays on Life and Long-Distance Hiking" is a collection of three non-fiction essays centered around long-distance hiking. The goal of "Thru" is to create sample pieces for a potential literary journal dedicated to long-distance hiking. Differentiating itself from current, popular hiking magazines comprised of gear reviews, training tips, destination lists, and survival techniques, "Thru" focuses on experiences, stories, and meditations that arise while hiking for an extended period of time. The first essay, "Stray," shows the author's conflicted relationship with the national bestseller Wild by Cheryl Strayed, as the author finds parallels between his own love life and that of Strayed. However, identifying with Strayed's first husband, Paul, the author finds his history unwritten and uncertain in the face of romantic loss. The second essay, "In My Time," follows the author's thru hike of the Colorado Trail. Starting off as an amateur hiker, the author grows up on the trail through trial and error and passes on his knowledge to less experienced hikers. In this the author breaks the cycle of maturing without the guidance of a father figure, while still trusting the less experienced hikers to learn on their own. The third essay, "Hiking Super-Ultra Light," seeks to answer the question of how to proceed in the face of crippling uncertainty. Planning a future combination thru hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail and the John Muir Trail, while in the middle of a new romantic relationship, the author juggles past experience and personal "baggage" to find that while the past offers insight and knowledge, dwelling on it can hinder forward progression and enjoyment of life.
Description
Rights Access
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