Colin Fletcher | Nature & Environment

The Thousand-Mile Summer In Desert And High Sierra by Colin Fletcher

Name: The Thousand-Mile Summer In Desert And High Sierra by Colin Fletcher
Brand: Fehmerling Books
SKU: 0831070463
Price: 30.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 0831070463

The Thousand-Mile Summer In Desert And High Sierra by Colin Fletcher

$30.00 USD

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Book Specifications

Format: Hardcover
Condition: Acceptable
Publisher: Howell-North Books (1973)
Length: 209 pages
Genre: Nature & Environment
ISBN: 0831070463

Condition Note: Acceptable Reading Copy: Complete and fully readable text. Dust jacket missing.

Quantity

Ships within 1–2 business days. Carefully packaged for safe delivery.

Colin Fletcher's Classic 1964 Backpacking Memoir of a 1,000-Mile Solo Walk Across California

First published in 1964, The Thousand-Mile Summer in Desert and High Sierra by pioneering outdoorsman Colin Fletcher is a cornerstone of modern wilderness literature. Often hailed as the "father of modern backpacking," Fletcher chronicles his extraordinary six-month solo journey walking the entire length of California's eastern border.

Equipped with a heavy pack and an insatiable curiosity, Fletcher set out in 1958 on a 1,000-mile trek beginning at the scorched Mexican border along the Colorado River. His route carried him through the brutal heat of Death Valley, across the soaring, snow-capped peaks of the High Sierra, and through the lush forests of Northern California before ending at the Oregon line. With rich observational humor, deep philosophical insight, and vivid descriptions of flora, fauna, and desert solitude, Fletcher captures the harsh beauty of the American West and the transformative peace found in true wilderness.

Why You'll Love This Book

Celebrated as a timeless classic of outdoor adventure and nature writing, The Thousand-Mile Summer laid the groundwork for modern long-distance hiking memoirs. Readers who enjoy classic wilderness literature, trail adventures, and works by John Muir, Edward Abbey (Desert Solitaire), Cheryl Strayed (Wild), Bill Bryson (A Walk in the Woods), Jon Krakauer, and Aldo Leopold will find Fletcher's journey deeply captivating.

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Very Good: Lightly read with minor shelf wear or light cover creasing. Pages are clean, crisp, and unmarked with a tight binding. (Our baseline standard for pre-loved books.)
Good: A well-loved reading copy with visible shelf wear or page aging, but fully intact and structurally sound.

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