John Riha

Rookies in the Wild is about a father and son who head off for a backpacking trip in one of the most ruggedly remote areas of the lower forty-eight. With no hiking experience, an overload of new gear, and a rich complement of paranoia, these two first-timers must overcome challenging wilderness surroundings and their own incompetence as they set out for misadventure along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Set in the spectacular Trinity Alps Wilderness of northern California, Rookies in the Wild is a paean to the American West. The awkwardly funny father-son bonding experience is told with tender wit and wisdom, and the tale is woven with natural history anecdotes that underscore the raw beauty and mystique of our last remaining wild places.

Rookies in the Wild is about facing fears: man-eating cougars, intestinal parasites, shoddy parenting, and mortality. It's also a story of grace. How nature forgives, forgets, replenishes, and enriches the spirit. And why wild places are so essential, and how they make us better humans.