Told through preserved family diaries, Crossing the Continental Divide joins two major 19th century American themes the moral consequences of chattel slavery and the cultural consequences of settlers going west. In 1853, newly widowed Ethan Fall leaves Oxford, England, sailing with his two young daughters to Charleston, South Carolina, to begin their new life. When they arrive, Ethan unexpectedly becomes responsible for Sensible Rose, a sixteen-year-old girl of mixed racial parentage. In an effort to remove his daughters and Rose as far away as possible from the South's "peculiar institution," the four join a wagon train following the Oregon Trail. As they travel, Crossing the Continental Divide tells the story of their complex and changing relationships, set against the dangers of slavery coupled to the dangers of westward migration.

In 2006 “outdoor philosopher” Kate Rawles cycled 4553 miles from Texas to Alaska, following the spine of the Rocky Mountains as closely as possible. Cycling across unforgiving but starkly beautiful landscapes in both the United States and Canada – deserts, high mountain passes, glaciers and eventually down to the sea – she encountered bears, wolves, moose, cliff-swallows, aspens and a single, astonishing lynx. Along the way, she talked to North Americans about climate change – from truck drivers to politicians – to find out what they knew about it, whether they cared, and if they did, what they thought they could do. Kate tells the story of a trip in which she has to deal with the rigours of cycling for ten hours a day in temperatures often in excess of 100° F, fighting punctures, endless repairs and inescapable, grinding fatigue. But in recounting the physical struggle of such a journey, she also does constant battle with her own ideas and assumptions, helping us to cross the great divide between where we are on climate change and where we need to be. Can we tackle climate change while still keeping our modern Western lifestyles intact? Should we put biofuel in our camper vans and RVs? Or do we need much deeper shifts in lifestyles, values and worldviews?

Artfully blending Scott Bischke and his wife Katie Gibson's agonizing struggle against Kate's advanced, recurrent, "terminal" cancer, this is the story of their three month, 800+ mile hike along the Continental Divide Trail across Montana. Numerous themes and parallels weave through the book: several encounters with grizzly bears, for example, provide an avenue for metaphorical comparisons between the fear of grizzlies and the fear of cancer. Similarly, Kate's ability to persevere through the toils of a long-distance hike provides a constant parallel to her ability to persevere against cancer. Other themes include the importance of a dogged spirit in battling cancer and the importance of wild country in revitalizing the soul.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Sussex, England, Stephen Pern was fascinated by the American West. As an adult, he spent six months walking 2,500 miles through the West, along the Continental Divide. Here is his irreverent, engaging account of the trek--a story of blisters and beauty, of off-beat characters and surprising insights.

For Paul Howard, who has ridden the entire Tour de France route during the race itself—setting off at 4 am each day to avoid being caught by the pros—riding a small mountain-bike race should hold no fear. Still, this isn’t just any mountain-bike race. This is the Tour Divide. Running from Banff in Canada to the Mexican border, the Tour Divide is more than 2,700 miles—500 miles longer than the Tour de France. Its route along the Continental Divide goes through the heart of the Rocky Mountains and involves more than 200,000 feet of ascent—the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest seven times. The other problem is that Howard has never owned a mountain bike—and how will training on the South Downs in southern England prepare him for sleeping rough in the Rockies? Entertaining and engaging, Eat, Sleep, Ride will appeal to avid and aspiring cyclers, as well as fans of adventure/travel narrative with a humorous twist.

CLICK HERE to download the first chapter from Cycling the Great Divide, 2nd Edition * Mountain bikers from around the world test their mettle on this 2,745-mile route each year * Ultra cycling, including this route through the Rockies, are increasing in popularity * 245 miles have been added to the route since the first edition was published and are now covered in this new update Mostly dirt roads, a little pavement, some single track, and 100% adventure await on the great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to Mexico. Cyclists dream of and plan for this life-list trip that starts in Banff, Alberta and rolls through 2,745 miles of wild mountainous beauty all the way to antelope Wells, New Mexico. Michael McCoy and the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) provide a segmented route guide for you to follow in its entirety or section ride to suit your schedule and stamina. This fully updated edition provides the information you need to stay on route and find food, water, bike supplies, and shelter (camp or stay in small-town accommodations) over the entire adventure. Updated content in the 2nd edition includes info on the 254 miles in Canada that were recently added to the route (with maps and photos), as well as changes and additions to the evolving trail, new resources to access on your trip, and new and revised maps.