Rambler Reformed: Stories, Confessions, and Theories from the Backcountry - Paperback

Rambler Reformed details the struggle of pursuing a life of adventure while balancing it with the stability that we all grow to need as we get older. It mixes stories of exploration in the backcountry with the kinds of questions and answers that come out of extended and remote trips: "How can I prioritize adventure in my life and make it sustainable?" and "What exactly makes our time in the wilderness meaningful?" Michael Weiss takes us through wild journeys like hiking the John Muir Trail, guiding backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon, thru-hiking the Colorado Trail, and bikepacking the length of the Baja Peninsula to try to answer these questions. And as you'll learn, asking them is more important than getting the answer. Weiss is one of the few authors in the adventure genre who leaves space for nuance, and he doesn't claim to always have the answers. He doesn't portray the world as simple, because it isn't.

Rambler Reformed reminds us that adventure is relative, and self-discovery can happen just as easily while rock climbing at your local crag as halfway up El Capitan. It takes away the chips on our shoulders and talks about adventure honestly and candidly, leaving the challenges and losses in with the victories. If you've ever wondered how to balance a life of adventure with the never-ending search for happiness, this book is your guide. Just don't expect to get spoonfed the answers.