By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate 

Hello friends! It’s my hope that today’s article will be a timely and practical one which is designed to help you find the perfect gift for any number of upcoming gifting events. Below you’ll find a healthy helping of gift ideas designed to appeal to your friends, family and associates who are fans of — or actively involved in adventure travel. (And yes, you can also gift any of these ideas to yourself. Or add them to your personal holiday and birthday gift lists.) Yes, I’m sharing my personal list of great gifts designed to appeal to adventure travel fans. Hang on to your pith helmets, and keep your compass dry! Here we go!

The Trail: A Novel by Ethan Gallogly 

“One step at a time.”

That’s how every hiking journey begins. And probably one great reason I thoroughly enjoyed being on the John Muir trail with Gil and Syd, the main characters in The Trail. Years ago, I did a couple of horse pack trips with mules carrying the load with a company outside of Bishop. I envied hikers who had the stamina to do the trail on foot and often wished that I could do the “Yosemite to Whitney” through hike  (a 211-212 mile trek along the John Muir trail that ends atop Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States.) This hike typically takes four to five weeks depending on your pace, your fitness and your logistics (meaning your plans for food resupply and transportation. Not to forget the requirement of acquiring a wilderness permit.)

The Trail: A novel by Ethan Gallogly with illustrations by Jeremy Ashcroft

Author Ethan Gallogly, PhD, has served as a leader in The Sierra Club, CHAOS, (the Cal Hiking and Outdoors Society) at Berkeley, and the Outdoors Club of Southern California. Given that he’s obviously an avid hiker, you won’t be surprised to learn that he’s trekked countless miles, including  the John Muir Trail, the High Sierra Trail, the Theodore Solomons Trail and parts of the Pacific Crest Trail. Beyond that, he’s read just about every book written on the history of the Sierra Nevada.

That Gallogly is an explorer, a hiker and a professor is evident in his writing style: In 2022, his book The Trail was named both the winner of America Book Fest’s Best Book Award in Literary Fiction and was also a Next Gen Indie Award finalist. The book is beautifully illustrated by Jeremy Ashcroft. Unsurprisingly, the writing and illustrating combo have made it an enduring Amazon Bestseller.

In reading it, I found it fun to be able to vicariously share the ethereal beauty of the mountains  without straining a muscle. I think Ethan and Jeremy did a good job incorporating a lot of historical details without becoming pedantic. Both of the characters are on a heroes’ journey, making the outcome somewhat predictable, but I still turned each page eagerly to find out what would happen next.

The life lessons, including that “time out is really time in,” are spread liberally in the conversations of the characters and are not new, but worth the refresher course. In my case, the author was preaching to the choir. My own theme song is that “we can find salvation in nature.” I was glad to read about  a young man slowing down, pulling the plug on devices and getting in touch with his inner river. The book left me with happy thoughts, and renewed conviction about my own beliefs.

Finally, I would also like to give a nod to Force of Nature: Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail by Joan M. Griffin, in which three women set out to hike the John Muir Trail. It gives you another perspective and is also quite enjoyable.

The Trail: A Novel by Ethan Gallogly

River’s Daughter by Bridget Crocker

Cover for The River’s Daughter by Bridget Crocker

Steve McQueen said his childhood was the sort that either made you stronger, or killed you! So did author Bridget Crocker, now an internationally renowned whitewater rafting guide. Her first chapters detailing the abuse she received from her parents are disturbing, but we need to know why Bridget was driven to such an extreme escape route. She jumped headlong into rafting life-threatening rivers, including the notorious Zambezi.

Crocker discovered the river forced her to stay focused in the present and called on her ability to endure intense pain, a skill she had cultivated in her youth. In Africa, she faces the deep racist and sexist attitudes that keep women as chattel, entities with no rights. The economy is desperate, the culture diverse, but she finds common ground. The river life keeps her connected with nature, strong and resilient.

River’s moves us forward with an ever-changing panorama that absorbs our busy minds. I have long loved rivers and I love this book. Crocker does a wonderful job converting her memoir into a riveting tale using dramatic techniques. Each chapter has a conflict, a dramatic arc with a hook to keep you moving forward. Masterful job on a tough reveal. I worried about the teen who was knocking back Jacks and packing bowls of pot. I envisioned her being on a crash course to addiction, but we learn in the epilogue that Bridget found her way out of a childhood that would have killed most of us.

River’s Daughter by Bridget Crocker

Baboons for Lunch and Other Sordid Adventures by James Michael Dorsey

The cover for Baboons for Lunch offers a bit of insight as to hat sort f tales you’ll find inside.

I love a man with a sense of humor. But it’s hard for me to imagine that the distinguished gentleman I’ve come to know as James Dorsey actually spent his early years entertaining himself by slinging dung balls at monkeys, and bouncing unceremoniously across the desert on a camel. But according to this memoir, it’s all true.

Both explorer and author, James Michael Dorsey spent two decades traveling to 56 countries in an effort to to connect with cultures that are rapidly disappearing. In Baboons for Lunch he tells  story after story that will have you eagerly turning pages to get to the next adventure. Some adventures are funny, others poignant, and then there are those that will have you clutching your chest to determine if your heart is still beating.

Come along with Dorsey on his adventures and enjoy the opportunity to climb a remote volcano in Ethiopia, undergo a tribal exorcism, and visit with shamans, healers, witch doctors and holy men. Will you find any commonalities with European or American native cultures?

And be aware that along the way, Dorsey periodically finds himself in precarious situations. However, I’ll close by promising that Dorsey always  handles these situations with respect for his hosts, while delivering  insights to his readers. This is a wonderful, well-written collection of tales from silly to soul searching. Obviously influenced by  my travel writing hero Tim Cahill, James shares his exploits with self-deprecating humor while delivering a deeper message.

Baboons for Lunch and Other Sordid Adventures by James Michael Dorsey

Endless Horizons: A Global Backpacker’s Quest for Adventure, Connection and Discovery, by Paul W. Neville

Endless Horizons shows you how to get from your “here,” to your desired “there.”

If you missed out on taking a gap year before entering a long- term career path, I’m here to tell you it is not too late. Join Paul W. Neville as he takes you along on his backpacker journey around the planet.

Neville became hooked on cultural exploration while in Tonga on a 2-year Peace Corp assignment. His take on the countries he visits and the people he meets is a bit deeper than the average vlogger/Blogger today. He shares history, political status and genuine encounters with local people.

You learn about the backpacker culture and how fellow adventurers form instant bonds with like-minded souls who become friends for the moment. Then, much like ships passing in the night, they are gone. All this without having to take a bum-busting bus ride on treacherous roads with manic drivers. Nor, do you have to endure the discomforts of hostels and cheap hotels.

I could have lived without knowing the intimate details of one-hole toilets, but apparently, they made a big impact on Paul’s experience. A crisp, fun writing style keeps you turning pages. I really enjoyed this book the second time, around knowing I will likely not get to any of the less-traveled places the book explores.

Currently Neville is a Foreign Service Officer stationed in the Netherlands with his wife and three sons. He says that while his adventurous spirit was shaped by the his Peace Corps service in Congo, his passion for travel actually began at age 17, when he traveled to London with his father. In addition to his foreign service career, Neville is also co-founder of Lana Learn, an e-learning platform designed to serve government agencies, private corporations and non-profits. He says he writes to inspire others to experience cross-cultural connections and the power of adventure.

Endless Horizons: A Global Backpacker’s Quest for Adventure, Connection and Discovery, by Paul W. Neville

Two Sticks, One Path: A Journey Beyond Fear on the Colorado Trail by Darrow Kirkpatrick

There are many memoirs about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, but few that go the length of the 500-mile Colorado Trail. I would love to hike this trail through staggeringly beautiful alpine scenery, but most of the track is at 10-12,000 feet. It is a challenge for fit people with young legs, but Darrow Fitzpatrick, an aging software engineer, does it with crutches and shares the six-year journey in this deeply personal memoir.

Kirkpatrick explains how, decades after hypothermia ended his first big adventure, and still dogged by anxiety, he finally decides to confront his fears for the exhilaration of this one last audacious quest. Once a rock-climber and extreme sport enthusiast he finds himself having a nervous breakdown and hating his job. He determines to hike the trail in segments at a glacial pace. It takes him six years which gives him plenty of time for reflection.

I enjoyed being in his backpack, hiking with various friends, as he faces punishing mileage, fierce rivers and freezing nights above the treelike. He is generous with details for those who may want to follow in his footsteps. He admits to often finds himself frightened about moving beyond his physical abilities but keeps pressing forward. It is an inspirational tale of true grit and fortitude.

I can’t hike the CT because I am “weak as a kitten” in high altitudes.  So my only recourse is to make the trek vicariously. If the same applies to you, this is your “how to do it” manual.

Two Sticks, One Path: A Journey Beyond Fear on the Colorado Trail by Darrow Kirkpatrick

Wilderness: The Gateway to the Soul  by Scott Stillman

Scott Stillman is “preaching to the choir” in my corner or the world. One of my short stories, set in Sedona, Arizona, is titled Not Enough Said for Solitude.  For some time, I have been encouraging people to toss their mice and clickers out the window and breathe deeply of our beautiful world. However, it is refreshing to find this younger voice also sharing the many ways that nature can be our salvation.

I believe people are too concerned about being connected and are harried trying to keep up with technology. They need to take time to listen to their inner river. I am not able to carry a backpack into remote regions solo, but I do enjoy horseback, riding, river rafting and hiking in our countries varied, majestic landscapes. I thank Scott for taking me into places I can’t go alone and for allowing me to imagine the peace, silence and magic of these wild places. This is a wonderful book that will help you be free in your wildness.

In short: Stillman’s Wilderness encourages readers to abandon their tech tools and get out into the wilderness to appreciate — and save — it.

Wilderness: The Gateway to the Soul by Scott Stillman 

And Now, last, but not least, I include my latest travel collection:

Lost Angel Unleashed: Stories from the Heart

Grab your backpacks and buckle up, fellow travel adventurers, because Lost Angel Unleashed is about to take you on the journey of a lifetime! Linda’s tales of wanderlust and wild escapades had me hooked from the get-go. From dodging grizzlies in Alaska to navigating the untamed rivers of Africa, this memoir is a rollercoaster ride of adrenaline-pumping adventures that will leave you breathless and craving more. But it’s not just about the thrill—it’s about the deep connection with nature, the bonds forged on the road, and the sheer joy of living life to the fullest. So, if you’re ready to unleash your inner explorer and embark on an unforgettable expedition, look no further than Lost Angel Unleashed—it’s the ultimate wanderlust fuel!

Lost Angel Unleashed: Stories from the Heart

Linda Ballou Freelance Writer

Linda's mission is to experience as many beautiful places on our planet as she can before they are no more. Travel tales relating her experiences while kayaking, horseback riding, sailing, birding and hiking about the globe have appeared in numerous national magazines. She had great fun collecting travel stories, and profiles of people she met in “naturally high places” for her book, Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales. Her latest book Lost Angel Unleashed is the third book in her Lost Angel Trilogy

Go to LostAngelAdventures.com for more adventures.

For more about Linda’s novels and media offerings go to. www.LindaBallouAuthor.com