This is the inspiring account of her adventures, of hiking thousands of miles (mostly alone) from Mexico to Canada, through the Mojave Desert and the High Sierra, and then in the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine. When she hasn't been hiking, she has been designing ultralight backpacking gear; award winning gear that has been acclaimed not only nationally but internationally as well. She shares her ultralight hiking expertise here, as well as some of her designs and sewing techniques. There are detailed instructions for making 12 important gear items, including her 8 ounce silnylon backpack. She also includes her latest gear list (with weights) and information on resupply and ultralight hiking in winter. Just want to say a "thumbs up" to Brawny's new book "My Journey to Freedom and Ultralight Backpacking." There is a lot of information regarding what she carried for the PCT and AT, ultralight gear, cook systems, shelters, clothing, etc., along with chapters on how to make your own gear. It might be helpful to some of you who are trying to eliminate the excess bulk and weight. You can read more about it and also order it on www.trailquest.net. It's $14.95 plus $2.00 for shipping. It's autographed, too Congratulations to Brawny for a terrific book ----Carol Reese I picked up Brawny's book with some mixed feelings. But you know, now I can't put it down I'm SO impressed by her. She did her hikes on a shoestring budget by making/modifying most of her gear. She took responsibility for her own happiness, and she rebuilt a life as full and rich as I could ever hope to have --J.W. My copies of Brawny's book arrived Thursday. Most excellent. I have not finished reading yet, but very much like the style in which it is written. Some books have a feeling that the author is trying to make you like what they are writing so what is presented is subject to skepticism, but all I feel from Brawny's book is genuine. I enjoyed some of the insights which were either not noted in her journals, or reflected on again from a slightly different perspective (maybe with hot coffee in a real mug, with real food simmering on a stove, and possibly rain OUTSIDE, lol). Even though I have read Brawny's journals and knew some of the information, I still enjoyed reading it again. I am only sad that when I finish the book, I will have finished it Sort of like running out of trail on a long hike, I would think. Anyway, thank you for putting your experiences into a good read. -- Joanne Feige I have just finished reading, and very thoroughly enjoying, Brawny Wellman's great new book, "My Journey to Freedom & Ultralight Backpacking." I very highly recommend it to all. Read about it here: http: //www.trailquest.net/dlgcmyjourney.html It's a great read, for many reasons. Mainly, she's a power-hiker who has logged 5000 miles in the last 3 years, carrying mostly homemade gear, and thru tremendous attention to detail, has truly refined her gear & methods of ultralighting. Brawny's sentiments on the "why's" of long-distance hiking, her treatment of, and definitions of the "journey," are themselves worth the price of admission. Get a copy today, before it makes Oprah's list and gets discovered. -- Brian in Oregon I got the book on friday, and read almost all of it over the weekend. Really interesting to read. Brawny she has put together a very interesting, helpful book; and good to read trailstories, nice nature descriptions, and all the tips. A superb combination. A book, one has to read, if he/she is interested in (ultra)lightweight-hiking. And congratulations to Brawny, that she can enjoy her life now. My mother took almost 20 years after her divorce to free herself mentally from her unhappy marriage. --Harald Loeffel, Austria