Books
Heels to Hiking Boots
Exploring the World to Find the Way Home
Home is where the spark is.
Born in rural Pennsylvania to an elegant, yet emotionally-distant mother, and a free-spirited, adventurous father, Sue Muller grows up in a home where tears are forbidden. As an exchange student in Chile, she is shocked by her host mother's range of emotions: anger, laughter, and indignation. Immersed in an uncomfortable world of feelings, Sue enters college ready to be someone new.
From falling in love with being in love, to building new friendships, Sue embarks on carefree escapades in Europe that eventually land her in hospital. Forced to reevaluate, she heads home to enter grad school and settle down.
But her restless heart has other plans.
Still searching for a place to call home — in every way — she travels solo to West Africa, immerses herself in counseling and teaching, and treks in the Himalayas. When she finds a love as wild as her wanderlust, Sue wonders: can heart and home finally be one?
Heels to Hiking Boots is an extraordinary tapestry of self-growth, hard lessons, and inspiration for anyone yearning for a life of adventure and the courage to pursue what lights them up.
Steady as She Goes
Women's Adventures at Sea (Adventure Series)
Veteran seafarers and anyone who has dreamed of running away to sea in their very own boat or simply savored the smell of the salty air on the water’s edge will be inspired by this well-crafted and varied collection. Steady as She Goes is both a testament to women’s enduring relationship with the sea and a gripping and illuminating read.
Whether commercial fishing in Alaska’s unforgiving waters, racing tall ships off the coast of Australia, kayaking in the enchanting Sea of Cortez, or learning the antiquated mechanics of a New York City fireboat, these women work and play at sea, spinning harrowing adventure yarns and relaying quiet moments of revelation surrounded by the vastness of the ocean.
This unique and long-overdue collection shatters once and for all the myth that the sea is solely the domain of men.
Sue Muller Hacking joins a host of other fine women writers in this anthology of women and the sea.
Mount Everest and Beyond
Sir Edmund Hillary
A biography of the New Zealand beekeeper who teamed up with Tenzing Norgay to be the first to climb the world's highest mountain in 1953.
"Grade 3-6. The climbing of Mount Everest is only a small part of the story told in this simple and well-written biography.
Much more basic to understanding Hillary (or Ed as the author somewhat jarringly calls him) is his attraction to the Himalayas and his fondness for the people who live there. The text describes how this son of a New Zealand beekeeper became interested in mountain climbing, stressing his friendship with the Sherpa guides who accompanied him on various expeditions.
Particularly eloquent is the description of his relationship with Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who joined him in the final push to Everest's summit. Also covered are Hillary's later years, including the tragic loss of his first wife and a daughter in a plane crash, and his ongoing efforts to improve living conditions for the Sherpas through the building of schools and hospitals.
Both the introduction, written by Hillary himself, and the final passages of the book acknowledge the mixed blessing that change has brought to these people. Large, full-color photographs illustrate the narrative. The language is clear and the sentences are short without being choppy."
-Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City
Take a Walk: Seattle
120 Walks through Natural Places in Seattle, Everett, Tacoma, and Olympia
The best way to explore Seattle is on foot, and this classic guidebook is updated, expanded, and better than ever.
Seattle is renowned for its walkability and stunning natural beauty. This guide will take you from Seattle’s parks and urban greenways to the windswept beaches, old-growth forests, and spectacular hilltop vistas of greater Puget Sound.
Featuring 120 of the best routes and destinations, there are highlights for birders, art lovers, beachcombers, history buffs, gardeners, and more—and the book also offers vital information on trail difficulty and accessibility, including trail steepness, walking distance, and wheelchair access.
With such scenic gems as Union Bay in Seattle, Meadowdale Beach Park in Lynnwood, Watershed Preserve in Redmond, Fort Steilacoom near Tacoma, and Frye Cove Park in Olympia, visitors and locals alike will find something new to love about greater Seattle. Lace up and get walking!
Boatless in Seattle
Getting on the Water in Western Washington Without Owning a Boat
Each chapter covers a specific activity like river rafting, white water kayaking, sea kayaking, dinghy sailing, cruising, tourist boating (including whale watching, bird watching and dining on the water) or crewing.
The research occupied many, many weeks as I participated in almost all of the activities I wrote about. The most challenging was learning the basics of white water kayaking.
Many organizations subsidized my boating experiences, but never for a positive write-up, just an acknowledgement and thank you. Each chapter begins with a fictional description of someone rafting, rowing, or sailing then goes on to talk about classes, opportunities to participate, and sometimes ways to volunteer and get out on the water.
What I hadn't anticipated was becoming enamored of crewing, both 8-person and two-person shells.