Force of Nature: Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail By Joan M. Griffin Book Tour & Giveaway! {Ends 11/23/23}

Review By LAWonder10:

Force of Nature is a remarkable, true story of a daring adventure three mature women took on their own. They took on the challenge of backpacking the whole arduous journey of the John Muir Trail, by themselves.

After experiencing a tragedy in her life, author Joan M. Griffin relates her reasons and the support she received in bringing to life this dream. She begins with her in-depth training, planning, and preparation, plus she adds two trusted friends to share this extreme adventure with her. 

In a wonderfully detailed script, Joan portrays this outstanding experience from its birth to the grueling end. She adequately “brings the reader into” her plight and it is easy to connect with the people involved and visualize the scenes, the dilemmas, and all the emotions involved when individuals undertake such an enormous quest. Will they remain trusted friends in the end?

As the foundation is laid and the story emerges, so does the energy and excitement evolve.

Both the Cover Image and Book Title were chosen very well and will probably catch the “browser’s” interest. The description of the characters, the scenes, and the emotions are vivid. One can almost feel the thoughts, feelings, and visualize the whole event.

The only thing I personally didn’t enjoy was a couple of words of profanity that could have easily been “cleaned up:”. It is a shame to lose many readers because of it.

I offer  Five-Stars rating

*This book was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.

 The John Muir Trail: The most beautiful long-distance trail in the world Joan M. Griffin – Author, Force of Nature: Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail

My backpack still on, I turned in a slow circle, taking in the details of the landscape. We stood in another small granite bowl. A wide shallow pond sat surrounded by scores of smaller versions of itself, serene little pools and puddles in rock, like a queen surrounded by her assembled court. Round stones, like giant marbles, lay scattered about in and around the water. The late afternoon sky, periwinkle blue polka-dotted with white clouds, was reflected in the perfect mirror of the small pond—and in each of the cups and pools arranged across the granite bowl. Like holograms, each pool, cup, puddle, and pond held the entire sky and surrounding mountain peaks—the mirrored surfaces broken only by the little marble islets.
My pores seemed to absorb the effervescent beauty like a sponge absorbing spilled Champagne. Any remaining anxiety dissolved into an expanding, foaming sense of beauty. I felt joyful, transfixed, and infused with contentment. Can one feel calm and fizzy at the same time? I must have gone on and on about it because a decade later, Cappy tells me I went kind of nuts over Silver Lake. I do not remember doing that, but I do have that hologram image hardwired in my brain. All I have to do is close my eyes—and it’s right there.

~ Joan M. Griffin, Force of Nature, p136, 2023
The John Muir Trail (JMT) is hailed by many as the most beautiful long-distance trail in the world—for good reason. Stretching 211 miles through the heart of the Sierra Nevada in California, the JMT offers a breathtaking journey through some of the most stunning and unspoiled wilderness in America. From its majestic peaks to pristine alpine lakes and lush meadows, this trail provides a profound and transformative experience for backpackers.
Hikers on the trail are treated to a remarkable panorama of changing landscapes and natural wonders—from the granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park in the north to the towering peaks of Mount Whitney in the south. Along the way, trekkers pass through lush forests, cross pristine meadows, and encounter rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and dainty high-altitude reflective ponds.
Nights spent under a blanket of stars in the high Sierra backcountry are nothing short of magical.
The JMT’s rugged terrain and elevation changes challenge even the hardiest hikers. Over the undulating course of the trail, hikers ascend nine mountain passes that stretch over 10,000 feet into the sky. All that effort is generously rewarded with awe-inspiring views that unfold around every turn.

The trail spends most of its time in deep wilderness areas, far from civilization. These areas are carefully protected, so each year only a few hundred backpackers receive trail permits. One can hike for hours and hours, even a full day or two, without ever crossing paths with another human.
This solitude, and the serenity that comes with being alone, surrounded by nature’s grandeur, is another reason why the trail is considered an unmatched gem among long-distance trails. This solitude can have a profound and transformational impact on the human spirit.
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing views.”
~ Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire, 1968