The heart of this anthology is these real trail tales, stories taken from PCT hikers: trailside humor and traditions, trail angels and trail magic, encounters with wildlife and wild weather, stories of being lost and found, rescues, and unusual incidents. Revealing a larger context are historical accounts of events such as Moses Schallenberger's winter on Donner Pass and pioneer efforts like the old Naches Road that ended up creating access to today's trails; Native American myths and legends such as that of Lost Lake near Mount Hood; and selections from highly-regarded environmental writers who have captured the region in print, including Mary Austin in The Land of Little Rain ; John Muir in The Mountains of California; and Barry Lopez in Crossing Open Ground. Readers will also enjoy a few more surprising contributions from the likes of Mark Twain and Ursula Le Guin.

Organized parallel to the actual sections of the PCT and presented in two regional volumes, The Pacific Crest Trailside Reader will entertain everyone from dedicated thru-hikers to lovers of regional lore.

Need more from the PCT Readers? Editors Rees Hughes and Corey Lewis are sharing stories from the trail on their website, pcttrailsidereader.com. Submit your own images or stories from the trail, or simply get lost in the tales from other travelers...