James Dalton Ward exited a failed marriage, moved into a camper, and worked a minimum-wage job. At 27 years old, he sought meaning for his life.

From his home in Alabama, he looked east to the Appalachian Trail for a distraction and, if he dared to dream, a life with purpose. In a solo attempt that defeats most who try it, he borrowed money from family and began the 2,197-mile trek in Georgia poorly equipped and with little experience.

Masterfully crafted, Trail Family: A Journey of Friendship and Transformation on the Appalachian Trail is a story of connections as Dalton forms bonds with a group of fellow thru hikers who give everything they’ve got to get to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The ups and downs of the legendary trail mirror the problems they each confront along the way.

The author bares self-doubts that burden him more than his heavy backpack, but trail family relationships and his developing confidence give him the strength to keep going. He gives readers a clear look at the Appalachian Trail through 14 states while crafting a guidebook for the spirit.

There’s enough joy along with hardships on these pages to make Trail Family an entertaining book that kept me turning pages with anticipation. It is one of the best and most unique thru-hiking stories I have read.