Force of Nature

Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail

By: Joan M. Griffin

Narrated by: Anna Crowe

Length: 16 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Three friends, women in their fifties, set out to hike "the most beautiful long-distance trail in the world," the John Muir Trail. From the outset, their adventure is complicated by self-inflicted accidents and ferocious weather, then enriched when they "adopt" a young hiker abandoned by her partner along the trail.

The women experience the terror of lightning at eleven-thousand feet, the thrill of walking through a towering waterfall, and the joy of dancing among midnight moonshadows. For a month, they live immersed in vast natural beauty, tackle the trail's physical demands, and find camaraderie among an ensemble cast of eccentric trail characters. Together, they are pulled forward toward the trail's end atop the highest peak in the High Sierra, Mt. Whitney, and the culmination of their transformative journey.

Force of Nature is equal parts gripping adventure tale, personal memoir, and vivid nature writing.

©2023 Black Rose Writing (P)2024 Black Rose Writing

Critic reviews

"Lace up your hiking boots! Let Griffin guide you over granite mountains, through thunderstorms, and wildflower-studded meadows." –Barbara Olson Lawrence, author of the forthcoming Drawing Water

“Wander a whole summer if you can…” John Muir

This book reads like a movie! Joan Griffin takes you on a real life adventure with her comrades as they embark on the infamous John Muir Trail in California. You really feel as if you’re right there with them as they experience treacherous trails, the unpredictable elements of nature and its extraordinary beauty as well as fascinating encounters with characters along the way…
Joan’s own personal ability to access the courage deep within to keep going despite all of the obstacles (internal and external) is inspiring and remarkable!
The reader truly gets to experience the legendary John Muir Trail through the author’s first hand personal journey… Highly recommend!

Inspiring!

i was riveted from beginning to end. I was sorry to finish, but anxious to get out on the trail.

Loved♥️ A treasure for me♥️

I have loved and was looking for something with nature interest, that was long, and poetically descriptive and this has not disappointed! I have been heartbroken with the loss of my dog 17 years old, my 2 cats,, my mom and two long time friends in a short time and to keep me out of my own head. Beautifully written and again did not disappoint! ♥️

Vivid descriptions. Great writing. Interesting story.

I like this book so much I bought copies for all my hiking friends. I loved the interaction between characters and watching the growth of the writer.

Loved the raw truths of the trail

I throughly enjoyed the book. Loved the raw truth of trail life and life in general. Because neither is easy. But we take both one step at a time and keep going.

Love it so far!

Joan was one of my teachers in 8th grade (and one of my favorites overall). This story takes place one or two years before she became my teacher. Not only do I love the story and how it's written, but to peek behind the curtain and see this very human side of such a large figure from my childhood adds an extra layer of interest and emotion

Well great… now I want to hike the JTP… I don’t think my husband will appreciate this!

I love wilderness camping, but do most of it through kayak and canoe trips. After reading this and hearing about all the different types of people, especially those with imperfections, who do big hikes, now I may have a new goal. I felt like I was right there with the author, she really brought you on the trail with her. The reader had a beautiful voice that I really connected with. Be warned before you read, if you have an affinity for the outdoors, this could inspire you to do something you might have never even considered!

Inspiring

Loved it all. Very uplifting and inspiring from the first page to the last page. Triumphet!!

What a fantastic book!

I've read books on all of the trails to complete a triple crown. when I came across this one, I couldn't help but think that there would be a lot of fluff because it has so many more pages than other authors wrote for those much longer trails. Those book was very detailed, but very well written and the narrator does a great job!

Force of Nature

This story allowed me to go to places I didn't know existed. To face dangers and have adventures that helped me see outside my little life in western Pennsylvania.