Praise for Cindy Ross's A Woman's Journey: "Ross lets readers into her heart."Publishers Weekly "A beautiful book, a wonderfully fascinating narrative."Annie Dillard A true account of a family's five-year adventure in the untamed wilderness of the American Rockies The Continental Divide Trail, a rugged, 3,100-mile footpath running along the crest of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico, is infamous for its tricky mountain passes and snowy traverses. In 1993, Cindy Ross, her husband, and their two toddlers, ages one and three, set out together on the Trail. Using llamas as kid-carriers and packers, they successfully hiked the entire Trail over the next five summers, covering the last 700 miles on tandem mountain bikes in 1998. In Scraping Heaven, Cindy Rossthe author of four critically acclaimed booksdeftly interweaves evocative descriptions of the landscape with dramatic accounts of sudden snowstorms, gale winds, and wildlife encounters. Through it all, her intimate reflections on marriage, family, and children provide contrapuntal depth and interest far beyond the high Rocky Mountain peaks.

Scraping Heaven : A Family's Journey Along the Continental Divide

History

Ross, Cindy

Americas

International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press

Relates the author's hiking experiences, discusses getting started, hiking techniques, equipment, and safety, and lists twenty five of the best places to hike

Hiking (Fodor's)

Travel

Caribbean

Fodor's Travel

“Cindy Ross does not claim to be a heroine. Her book is about the fear of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things. . . . It is good to read of someone who is just crammed full of courage, guts, spirit and determination.” —Smoke Blanchard, Walking Up and Down in the World
Cindy Ross had already hiked the 2000-mile length of the Appalachian Trail when, hoping to escape a deadening daily routine and sort out her life, she returned to the wild. But this time it was a more rugged arena: the Pacific Crest Trail, a mostly mountainous, 2600-mile route from Mexico to Canada, vastly different from the relatively gentle, well-traveled Appalachian Trail.
Her trip began—badly—in the California desert, where the hiking “partner” she had selected from an advertisement proved to be totally inexperienced and so strange that they parted company the first day. Continuing alone, Ross soon became the de facto leader of a motley, ever-changing crew of PCT walkers that came to be known as “Cindy’s Circus.” Long, rugged hiking days produced physical ailments and strong emotions, but in confronting and surmounting these challenges, Ross grew in strength. After many months and several major changes in her life, Ross beat fall snows and storms to reach the Canadian border. More than the end of the trail, this was also a symbolic milestone in her life.
In narrating her story, Ross deftly brings the reader into the physical and emotional landscape of long-distance hiking. Her cast of “Crest characters” is sharply drawn in both words and sketches.

Journey On the Crest: Walking 2600 Miles from Mexico to Canada

Literature & Fiction

MOUNTAINEERS BOOKS+

Compiles trail secrets, tips, and techniques to provide hikers and backpackers with a reference guide to selecting equipment, preparing for a hike, setting up camp, and staying safe in the wilderness

A Hiker's Companion: 12,000 Miles of Trail-Tested Wisdom

Sports & Outdoors

Gladfelter, Todd

Hiking & Camping

Provides practical information for introducing children to wilderness adventures, suggests nature activities, and discusses child's gear and safety issues

Kids in the Wild: A Family Guide to Outdoor Recreation

The author depicts her backpacking trip from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail and describes how her experiences have changed her attitude toward life

A Woman's Journey on the Appalachian Trail

East Woods Pr

This enthusiastic account of one woman's hike of more than 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine on the legendary Appalachian Trail established her as a new voice among A.T. authors soon after its initial publication in 1982. Today, it's a classic.Artist/writer Cindy Ross split her trek across two years in the late 1970s, before the A.T. became popular for long-distance hiking. That, in no way, diminished the adventure of hardships and joys, loneliness and new friendships, physical and spiritual self-discovery, and radical change that mirrored the ridgecrests and valleys she crossed. Her sketches and vivid descriptions bring to life not only the personalities encountered along the way but also the true spirit of the Appalachian Trail community-a far-flung yet tightly knit family of all ages and backgrounds who share a love for a simple footpath where all are, simply, hikers.

A Woman's Journey

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Bronze Medal, Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, Society of American Travel Writers "Cindy Ross is one of today's most eloquent and thoughtful writers on the connection between humans and the natural world."—Richard Louv, New York Times bestselling author Cindy's story begins in the Rocky Mountain wilderness on a unique and extraordinary journey: two parents leading their young children 3,100 miles on the backs of llamas. This Canada-Mexico trek illustrated to Cindy and her husband what experiential education can do. Inspired by the experience, they went on to create a new way of supplementing their children’s education, focusing on two arenas for learning: the natural world and travel. In this age of world connection, it is important to raise broad-minded and empathetic children who are knowledgeable about other cultures. To accomplish this goal, Cindy chose an unorthodox approach: she orchestrated learning opportunities for her children, Sierra and Bryce, in twelve countries. The family traveled the world, moving about on foot and bicycle, living simply and intimately. But just as important, and more accessible for many parents, were the opportunities for learning closer to home. These adventures brought intangible gifts: values--such as compassion, empathy, resilience, self-reliance, and gratitude, among others--not always fostered in a traditional curriculum but crucially important to raising children. By sharing her story, along with honest insights from her children about the importance of their unusual education, Cindy aims to empower parents to believe they can be their children's best and most important educators. It is for parents who are seeking inspiration, who love a good story, and who are looking for an unorthodox way to raise the happiest, healthiest, and brightest children they can.

The World Is Our Classroom: How One Family Used Nature and Travel to Shape an Extraordinary Education

Parenting & Relationships

Parenting

Skyhorse

Product Description 
"Cindy Ross is one of today's most eloquent and thoughtful writers on the connection between humans and the natural world."— 
Richard Louv, 
New York Times 
 bestselling author\nThe Log Cabin Years is the inspiring story of how award-winning author Cindy Ross and her husband, artist Todd Gladfelter—a young couple totally inexperienced in construction—built a log home using raw trees and without the use of power, how they recycled and used salvage to supplement their materials, and how the home went on to become a living, breathing part of their lives together.\nWith a perfect mix of memoir and practical information, 
The Log Cabin Years explores the ways the couple not only developed their building skills but defined the values and virtues by which they would continue to live—self-confidence, freedom, and independence. As the cabin walls grew, so, too, did Cindy and Todd—as individuals and as partners. Building a home forced the couple to learn to argue constructively, communicate openly, and work within the parameters of each person’s unique personality. 
The Log Cabin Years is a great example of how two people can learn to work together through difficult times, both mental and physical.\nFor their efforts, they were able to build, and then live in, a beautiful home—debt free.\nFrom hosting Appalachian Trail hikers to offering a sanctuary for recovering veterans, from providing a place to homeschool and teach their children to launching Todd’s very successful career as a chainsaw carving artist, the cabin has given back, fostering creativity, learning, and healing.\nBuilding your own home has long been an American dream. The desire and need to live more sustainably has seeped into all aspects of our lives. 
The Log Cabin Years will speak to all people who wish to live a more sustainable life, empower themselves, build relationships, learn skills, and perhaps create a hand-built home of their own. 
 About the Author 
Cindy Ross has written about adventure, sustainable living, and raising children alternatively via outdoor adventures and travel for a variety of publications, including the 
Los Angeles Times, the 
 Toronto Star, and 
Backpacker magazine. The author of six published books, including the award-winning 
The World Is Our Classroom, she has lectured on the virtues of sustainability for twenty-five years. Cindy lives in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania.

Log Cabin Years: How One Couple Built a Home From Scratch and Created a Life

Self-Help

Relationships

"Not only are readers given the opportunity to experience the sheer beauty and at times frightening dangers of the trail, but they also watch two children grow and learn to call the trail their home. Well written, captivating, and incredibly educational, this adventure is a lesson in the simplicity of life and the beauty of accomplishment." ―Publishers Weekly "This is both an epic adventure of the first order and the heartwarming story of the family who accomplished it." ―San Francisco Chronicle Now available for the first time in paperback and ebook, Scraping Heaven is the story of a family's adventurous trek over the rooftop of North America―a warm and heartfelt account with a powerful message for parents, long-distance hikers, and outdoor adventurers alike. The Continental Divide Trail, a rugged 3100-mile footpath running along the crest of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico, is infamous for its tricky mountain passes and snowy traverses. In 1993, Cindy Ross, her husband, and their two toddlers set out together on the Trail. Using llamas as kid-carriers and packers, they successfully hiked the entire route over the next five summers, covering the last 700 miles on tandem mountain bikes in 1998. A keenly observant storyteller, Ross deftly interweaves evocative descriptions of the landscape with dramatic accounts of sudden snowstorms, gale-force winds strong enough to lift a child, and heart-pounding wildlife encounters. Through it all, her intimate reflections on marriage, family, and children provide depth and interest far beyond the high Rocky Mountain peaks. Scraping Heaven features a new afterword by the author.

Scraping Heaven: A Family's Journey Along the Continental Divide Trail

Biographies

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