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Zero Days: The Real Life Adventure of Captain Bligh, Nellie Bly, and 10-year-old Scrambler on the Pacific Crest Trail
In April 2004, Barbara Egbert and Gary Chambers and their precocious 10-year-old daughter Mary embarked on a 2,650-mile hike from Mexico to Canada along the famed Pacific Crest Trail. This the well-told tale of their epic adventure, which required love, perseverance, and the careful rationing of toilet paper. Six months later, Mary would become the youngest person ever to successfully walk the entire trail.The trio weathered the heat of the Mojave, the jagged peaks of the Sierra, the rain of Oregon, and the final cold stretch through the Northern Cascades. They discovered which family values, from love and equality to thrift and cleanliness, could withstand a long, narrow trail and 137 nights together in a 6-by-8-foot tent. Filled with tidbits of wisdom, practical advice, and humor, this story will both entertain and inspire readers to dream about and plan their own epic journey.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 29, 2011
As a long distant hiker myself, I did not like the book at all for various reasons. The first few pages presented some insights into the personalities of Captain Bligh and Nellie Bly. I found the insights unfavorable; honest, but not characteristics that I admire nor want to read about for pages and pages.
Secondly, I did not like the author's simple regurgitation of Appalachian Trail characteristics when she has never thru-hiked that trail. If I want a comparison of the AT vs the PCT and have not done the hikes myself, I'll ask hikers who have completed both.
Third, too many inaccuracies. "30-mile a day pace". Nah, do your own research. Hikers average about 20mpd, not 30. "Stoveless hikers can't eat dehydrated food". Since when? Ever heard of "hydrate with just simple ol' cold water". Too much misinformation was in this book.
And lastly I was hoping to gleam more about their hike. What I got instead was a topic by topic discussion of things related to any long hike, not specifically the PCT. I was also hoping to pick up some new ideas for myself, but the more I read the more I was surprised as to how novice they still are in their skills - i.e., "Get up at 4:30am to hit the trail by 7:10". WOW, is all I can say. 20-60 minutes tops if you are on a long distant hike depending on your routines; with extremely few long distant hikers being at the higher range!
Perhaps this is a good read for someone who has no clue as to hiking and can avoid the pain of reading the inaccuracies and misrepresentations.
Secondly, I did not like the author's simple regurgitation of Appalachian Trail characteristics when she has never thru-hiked that trail. If I want a comparison of the AT vs the PCT and have not done the hikes myself, I'll ask hikers who have completed both.
Third, too many inaccuracies. "30-mile a day pace". Nah, do your own research. Hikers average about 20mpd, not 30. "Stoveless hikers can't eat dehydrated food". Since when? Ever heard of "hydrate with just simple ol' cold water". Too much misinformation was in this book.
And lastly I was hoping to gleam more about their hike. What I got instead was a topic by topic discussion of things related to any long hike, not specifically the PCT. I was also hoping to pick up some new ideas for myself, but the more I read the more I was surprised as to how novice they still are in their skills - i.e., "Get up at 4:30am to hit the trail by 7:10". WOW, is all I can say. 20-60 minutes tops if you are on a long distant hike depending on your routines; with extremely few long distant hikers being at the higher range!
Perhaps this is a good read for someone who has no clue as to hiking and can avoid the pain of reading the inaccuracies and misrepresentations.
October 3, 2012
I like the way this book was organized by topic, rather than by the geography of the trail like most trail journal books. It had lots of helpful and practical information through good storytelling. I had to laugh when half-way along the trail they were fearful of letting Scrambler (their daughter) sleep in the top bunk of a bunk bed. Yeah, that's more dangerous than scaring growling bears away from their camp on a regular basis. My one criticism (and why I only gave it four stars, instead of five) is that the author comes across slightly self-righteous at times, for example, scolding solo hikers for not confronting bikers on the trail the way her family did. As a female considering hiking the trail by myself, my priority is going to be to keep myself safe, not police the trail. People who hike in families or packs have many luxuries that solo hikers just can't afford.
May 28, 2009
Yay (for child abuse)!
Egbert gets points for avoiding the travel-essay cliche of the standard, chronological recounting of her journey. She chooses to arrange the anecdotes by topic, rather than timeline.
However, the novel suffers from "please too many people" syndrome, with a healthy dose of condescension thrown in. Most of her audience may feel a bit patronized at how thick she lays on the trail talk, or how many thousands of different ways she manages to remind us what her family's trail names are, for instance. It gets tiring.
Still, her daughter's achievement is noteworthy and respectable. Perhaps someday her daughter will write the same story from her own perspective.
Egbert gets points for avoiding the travel-essay cliche of the standard, chronological recounting of her journey. She chooses to arrange the anecdotes by topic, rather than timeline.
However, the novel suffers from "please too many people" syndrome, with a healthy dose of condescension thrown in. Most of her audience may feel a bit patronized at how thick she lays on the trail talk, or how many thousands of different ways she manages to remind us what her family's trail names are, for instance. It gets tiring.
Still, her daughter's achievement is noteworthy and respectable. Perhaps someday her daughter will write the same story from her own perspective.
June 7, 2009
It's an enjoyable book about a family who hikes the Pacific Crest Trail together.
I think it was enjoyable because it deals with hiking, adventure, and some of the people met along the way.
But that poor girl! One of the hikers in the family's a 10 year old girl, at the mercy of her crazy hippie parents.
They're so condescending... not to their daughter, (no, actually, they seem to think their daughter's wonderful and perfect), but condescending to traditional society, and to several of the people they meet along the way.
I think it was enjoyable because it deals with hiking, adventure, and some of the people met along the way.
But that poor girl! One of the hikers in the family's a 10 year old girl, at the mercy of her crazy hippie parents.
They're so condescending... not to their daughter, (no, actually, they seem to think their daughter's wonderful and perfect), but condescending to traditional society, and to several of the people they meet along the way.
January 20, 2011
Covers the very interesting adventure of a couple and their 10 year old daughter and their hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. My frustration for the book was that instead of covering their journey from start to finish, the book was split up into chapters based on different topics. As a result, the reader bounces back and forth to different places along the hike. I didn't feel like I was following along with them like many other long distance hiking books. Some people may prefer this style instead of following the hikers down the trail, but I do not.
January 19, 2012
I absolutely loved this book! It all happened a long time ago and I suppose Mary-Scrambler is about 18 years old now, but I found myself going along on this journey with great enjoyment, as if it were happening in the present time. As I approach my 65th birthday and retirement, I am contemplating this journey for myself. This book, along with others on the subject, has provided a great overview of the Pacific Crest Trail and the interesting people I might meet along the way.
I'm surprised at the luke-warm reviews given by others. It's a wonderful book!
I'm surprised at the luke-warm reviews given by others. It's a wonderful book!
September 5, 2008
I really don't like the way this is written, so I am going to ditch it. It's reading like a laundry list.
October 23, 2025
I have read a lot of books about the PCT, I mean a lot of books. Of course, Wild and Thrive top the list, but this one is up there for your average Joe. I wish it had been written completely chronologically instead of topically, but I still enjoyed it.
ty was very nice to read The perspective of the trail from a child.
In particular, I enjoyed the final chapter where the author addresses the future of the trail. For those of us who are not aware of the mechanics and politics involved, it was quite telling.
ty was very nice to read The perspective of the trail from a child.
In particular, I enjoyed the final chapter where the author addresses the future of the trail. For those of us who are not aware of the mechanics and politics involved, it was quite telling.
October 24, 2020
Second time reading this. It's October 23, 2020... a bunch o days into the qurantineorwhatever this is. This is only the third book I've finished during this time. I can't be out on the trail so thank goodness for this book. Up next, rereading the CDT book I have.
June 8, 2017
I loved the adventurew and I loved the story. It was written not in chronological order but skipped around to different concepts of the trip. but it was not hard to follow. A great adventure
April 21, 2025
It would have been a great book if it wasn’t written as a journalist with mostly facts and not story.
March 12, 2013
As a long-distance hiker who hasn’t yet hiked the PCT, I was terribly disappointed in this book. Because the author is a journalist I expected the book to be much better-written than it was. But it turns out the author is actually a columnist, and that is what this book turned out to be--a disjointed series of columns/essays with no segue between topics, making for jarring and confusing transitions.
I was most disappointed, though, because I never got the real flavor of the PCT. I never got the sights, sounds, feelings, smells, etc.; things that make the PCT special. No mention of daily life on the PCT and no mention or description of beautiful sights and spots. The book was a description of the family’s numerous misadventures on the PCT but there was no mention of a “good day” on the PCT. Surely there must have been a few?
I also found the author’s condescension of non-hikers a little jarring. I understand that when you get into the thru-hiker world you get that feeling of “other,” but I believe this (older, more mature) author could and should have avoided this syndrome. Also her numerous opinions on things unrelated to hiking did not belong in this book (disabled hunting practices, for instance). Especially since the author was still unable to read a map, often took wrong turns, and depended way too heavily on her hiking partner, I didn’t feel she should be preaching to me.
I feel like this story is Scrambler’s to tell. Scrambler is the one who achieved something truly remarkable. Scrambler, if you’re reading this, you could write your own account of your PCT thru-hike. I’d love to read it!
I was most disappointed, though, because I never got the real flavor of the PCT. I never got the sights, sounds, feelings, smells, etc.; things that make the PCT special. No mention of daily life on the PCT and no mention or description of beautiful sights and spots. The book was a description of the family’s numerous misadventures on the PCT but there was no mention of a “good day” on the PCT. Surely there must have been a few?
I also found the author’s condescension of non-hikers a little jarring. I understand that when you get into the thru-hiker world you get that feeling of “other,” but I believe this (older, more mature) author could and should have avoided this syndrome. Also her numerous opinions on things unrelated to hiking did not belong in this book (disabled hunting practices, for instance). Especially since the author was still unable to read a map, often took wrong turns, and depended way too heavily on her hiking partner, I didn’t feel she should be preaching to me.
I feel like this story is Scrambler’s to tell. Scrambler is the one who achieved something truly remarkable. Scrambler, if you’re reading this, you could write your own account of your PCT thru-hike. I’d love to read it!
February 24, 2017
No child is harmed in the making of this book! It's the adults who suffer the abuse. White the author's stated aim is to show that children can safely backpack (and that's successfully accomplished), the book could be considered both a triumph and a cautionary tale for the over-50 set to backpack. My God, the middle-aged joints that suffer in this book!!
This book makes the Appalachian Trail seem like a cake walk next to the Pacific Coast Trail. The desert, the snow, the crazy, relentless rain!! Yet it all sounds so appealing.
Bottom line, a quick, fun read on adventure for the entire family.
This book makes the Appalachian Trail seem like a cake walk next to the Pacific Coast Trail. The desert, the snow, the crazy, relentless rain!! Yet it all sounds so appealing.
Bottom line, a quick, fun read on adventure for the entire family.
September 26, 2013
The author recounts thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alongside her husband and 10-year-old daughter, an amazing feat that took months. She doesn't tell the story in chronological order so it reads, in my opinion, much better than a direct regurgitation of a journal. Along the way she discusses people they meet, food mishaps, encounters with wildlife, and many stops along the way, from the border of Mexico where the trail begins, through California, Oregon and Washington. Her daughter became the youngest person to thru-hike, a tremendous accomplishment for someone so young.
August 17, 2008
Truly enjoyed this book. I'll be buying copies for formerly outdoorsy friends who stopped doing outdoor activities because they have young children. The Egbert's prove that exposing your children to the outdoors at a young age is possible, good for them, and will result in young adults who have a passion for wild places. The book itself is well written, funny, and reads more like a reflection than a trail journal.
September 13, 2008
Though the organization of this book seems to be lacking, I appreciated the determination and goal setting of this unique family. As I was reading the author's description of hiking in the North Cascades I could see them from the airplane. Having backpacked in the Sierras and the Cascades I could visualize several spots along their route. I wanted to grab my backpack and hiking boots to join the journey.
February 7, 2011
A combination of journal style writing and subject overviews and information about the family's planning and trek on the PCT. Adventures, challenges, pitfalls and successes they experienced and information to help hopeful trekkers succeed the 2650 mile hike. The end became a little rushed with fewer details about sections and even personal perspectives. Much like many of us do on a long hike, toward the end, she got in a hurry. Insightful and enjoyable for me though.
September 21, 2014
AMAZING!
What I especially like about tis book is how the content is organized differently from other PCT hikers' journeys. Instead of the chronological progress, chapters, except for the beginning and end of journey, the rest focus on backpackers they had met, the trail angels, town stops, nature along the trail and so forth.
breastfeeding while hiking up a steep slope!! I am so right wanting to own tis book
What I especially like about tis book is how the content is organized differently from other PCT hikers' journeys. Instead of the chronological progress, chapters, except for the beginning and end of journey, the rest focus on backpackers they had met, the trail angels, town stops, nature along the trail and so forth.
breastfeeding while hiking up a steep slope!! I am so right wanting to own tis book
March 19, 2014
This book would be prefect for anyone planning a thru-hike. It had a few too many dry explanations of thru-hiking for me since I've done one before, so I had a hard time getting started with this book. I did end up attached to the story of the family and by the end of the book I was eager to know the rest of their experience. I hope I'll get to take my daughters long distance backpacking as well.
June 7, 2015
I enjoyed parts of this book; it gave me a new insight into the PCT. That said, it was very put-down-able. I have a lot of admiration for what this family accomplished; Scrambler in particular. The book, however, was very hard to follow. The way that the author jumped around between time periods and different parts of the trail made for a far less enjoyable read than if she had followed told the story in a more linear fashion.
February 29, 2016
Struggled to get through this book. Long list of people, places and physical ailments which were just not that interesting. Enjoyed the few entries from Mary's journal and occasional mention of places I've hiked. Put this book aside for a while and read The High Adventure of Eric Ryback, which was much better.
April 24, 2009
This is a great book if you are planning to thru-hike the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). It is written by a woman who did just that in 2004 with her husband and then 10 year-old daughter who is the youngest person to complete the PCT.
November 15, 2010
Fun! The people that they met, the places they went, and challenges that they overcame as a family are inspirational! I would love to have this opportunity with my own family...and maybe someday I will!
December 18, 2012
Excellent hiking memoir. As well as being a great hiking memoir, the last chapter details some of the pros and cons of the increasing popularity of the Pacific Crest Trail. Overall, the book gives a very good overview of both the positives and negatives of a multi-month long-distance thru-hike.
October 21, 2008
Interesting to read what they have gone through, since we have done some hiking in some of those areas.
Read
March 30, 2010Read because I'm considering a through-hike of the PCT or AT, this tells the story of PCT's youngest through-hiker and her family's journey. A quick and fascinating read.
September 11, 2013
Excellent story of a family doing the PCT. Daughter was 10 years old...amazing.
February 9, 2014
I enjoyed this book, but if it hadn't been for Scrambler, it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun.
September 7, 2014
Book was fun. Not astounding but I enjoyed it. Definitely watch the YouTube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJCIf...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJCIf...
January 23, 2016
It was interesting to read about their adventures on the PCT, especially since they did it with a ten year old in tow. The book was a little slow in parts but overall a decent read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews