We're in the Mountains, Not over the Hill: Tales and Tips from Seasoned Women Backpackers

Mammoth, CA Good News, July 24-30, 2003
"Great Summer Read! The stories are sometimes humorous and other times serious, but most are at the very least inspiring."

East Bay Express, April 30, 2003
"refreshing handbook of hiking and backpacking for those who know it isn't over until it's over."

Montclarion, July 15, 2003
"Informative, engaging, and inspiring. (Alcorn) reminds women who want to backpack to set their own goals, to savor their successes."

Outdoor Australia, August/September, 2003
"...an intriguing balance between practical tips to get you started and the retelling of adventure in short snippets."

Hill Newspapers, May 16, 2003
"A passion, by its very nature, is a sexy thing. Alcorn has a passion for backpacking."

Book Description
Travel, adventure, women's interest! True adventures, challenging journeys, and life affirming trips. Three dozen women, in the prime of their lives, take you backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, the Rockies, the Appalachians and more. This compelling collage of stories and advice combines honesty, insight and humor with practical wisdom and proven tips to inspire women and men of all ages. Gutsy women ford ice-chilled streams, clamber up steep mountainsides, chase away hungry bears -- or await helicopter rescue. Whether scaling mountains solo or lounging with friends near a crackling campfire, they are reaping the rewards of their strenuous days and soaking in the wonders of nature. "If we can do it, so can you."

From the Back Cover
Travel/Adventure/Women's Interest True adventures, challenging journeys, and life-affirming trips. Three dozen women, in the prime of their lives, take you backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, the Rockies, the Appalachians and more. This compelling collage of stories and advice combines honesty, insight and humor with practical wisdom and proven tips to inspire women and men of all ages. We're in the Mountains, Not Over the Hill opens with the author describing her adventures into the Sierra - at a time in her life when most of her peers were buying recliners instead of backpacks - then follows the exploits of other gutsy women as they ford ice-chilled streams, clamber up steep mountainsides, chase away hungry bears - or await rescue by helicopter. Whether scaling mountains solo or lounging with friends near a crackling campfire, they are reaping the rewards of their strenuous days and soaking in the wonders of nature. Enjoy the warmth of Irene Cline, the oldest woman to complete the Appalachian Trail, the gritty character of Emma Gatewood who, at 67, was the first woman to thru-hike the AT, and the humor of Laurie Foot, the first woman over 45 to hike/bike trans-U.S. on the American Discovery Trail. Gain inspiration from Jenny Jardine who has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail three times, Kathy Morey whose coauthorship of Wilderness Press's Sierra South is based on her thousands of miles in the Sierra Nevada, and Frandee Johnson, co-founder of Great Old Broads for Wilderness, who hikes in the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. Hear from women whose more modest accomplishments demonstrate that backpacking is available to all who have the dream and determination. Whether armchair adventurer or experienced backpacker, this book will inspire you to put on your hiking boots and hit the nearest trail. "This delightful book left me torn between an urge to lash on my pack and head for the high Sierra and a new-found desire to come back in my next life as a woman." - Brad Newsham, author of Take Me With You and creator of "Backpack Nation". You'll learn: ·How to "pack light" and end the day a happy camper ·How to protect yourself from everything from mosquitoes to bears ·How to travel with renewed energy and rekindled excitement ·How you can grow stronger in mind, body, and spirit "If we can do it, you can too!"

About the Author
"We're in the Mountains, Not over the Hill" opens with author Susan Alcorn describing her adventures into the Sierra -- at a time in her life when most of her peers were buying recliners instead of backpacks. She was 48 when she first struggled to lift her 35 pound pack into place. As she stood in her living room hardly able to move, tears came to her eyes. But she was determined to embark on this new adventure and three weeks later reached the 14,495 foot peak of Mt. Whitney. Since that time she has backpacked hundreds of miles in the Sierra and walked 400 miles across Spain on its famous pilgrimage trail, The Camino de Santiago. Susan and her husband Ralph live in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoy hiking in the hills surrounding them.


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