Marker to Marker: A Woman's Journey of Purpose and Perseverance Amidst Adversity

by Bridgett Watkins

Marker to Overcoming Life’s Obstacles One Step at a Time

Discover a Journey of Grit, Perseverance, and Unyielding Faith

In Marker to Marker, Bridgett Watkins offers readers an inspiring, true account of her journey as a musher navigating Alaska’s wilderness, overcoming formidable challenges, and pursuing her dreams one marker at a time. Raised in the wild heart of Alaska, Watkins learned early on about resilience, self-belief, and the importance of stepping out in faith when the path ahead is unclear.

Her life has been a series of obstacles to face, goals to chase, and dreams to realize. From weathering brutal blizzards and moose attacks to enduring a snowmachine accident and near-death experiences on the icy trails, Bridgett has faced fears that would stop most in their tracks. Yet, with her team of loyal sled dogs and a determination as unbreakable as the Alaskan landscape, she embraced every challenge, finding strength in both the quiet moments and adrenaline-filled adventures.

Key Themes

The Power of How every setback and obstacle can be a stepping stone to growth.Inspiration and Insights to fuel your own journey toward personal and professional dreams.Faith and A reminder that life’s path isn’t always visible, but by moving marker to marker, anything is possible.Alaskan Experience the awe-inspiring beauty and unforgiving conditions of Alaska through Watkins’ vivid storytelling.Perfect for those seeking inspiration, adventure lovers, and anyone who believes in the power of unwavering determination, Marker to Marker is a testament to the human spirit's ability to thrive in the face of adversity. Journey alongside Bridgett as she conquers the wilderness and illuminates how we, too, can turn our obstacles into markers that guide us toward our dreams.

Buy Marker to Marker today and be inspired to chase your own adventure—one marker at a time.

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 6, 2024

Reviews

[Valerie Schleich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marker to Marker is Bridgett Watkins’ first book, and she shares a full and exciting life deeply with so much heart and faith. The story and her life is an incredible one, with travel, young love, heartache…and of course, lots of dogs! It’s a perfect book to read in the winter season, curled up under a blanket, safely distanced from the frigid description of chopping into a drift of snow with an axe to find her buried dog team. This girl has some grit! And reading about her hard work and never-give-up attitude inspires me to try just a little harder in my own endeavors.

What turns this story into an extraordinary one is the honesty and heart with which Bridgett shares about all her life. The mushing stuff is great, but reading about the real-life challenges as a mom, a wife, and someone who, like all of us, is trying to find value and meaning from all aspects of her life, and taking that balancing act day by day, was truly inspiring for me. I may not have a dog kennel or the guts to travel 1,000 miles through the Alaskan wilderness, but I identify so strongly with the tension between a mother who wants to role model working hard and following her dreams, while also nurturing her family. That journey, while not as dramatic as a moose attack, was just as poignant and beautiful. I admire Bridgett for living it, and for sharing her heartfelt and personal story with us.

I would recommend this book to everyone who loves the outdoors, loves real life tough women, who loves motherhood, and most of all loves dogs!

[Teresa Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I always knew Bridgett was tough and admirable but to actually hear what all she endured makes her even more admirable! She’s one tough Mother! Thank you for sharing your story and giving us some insight into what it’s like out on the trails. Oh and thanks for the tears too 💜

[Chantica · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are many excellent books about dog mushing and the Iditarod. Start with Gary Paul, Lance Mackey, Jeff King, Martin Buser. Bridget’s story may be interesting to family and friends but is lacking in depth and breadth.

[Karen Team-orange · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I've followed the Iditarod and mushing, from a distance for a few years. The trust built between canines and humans is incredible and very special. I read about the moose incident shortly after it happened and started to follow Bridgett and Kennel on a Hill at that time. I really felt for her having to scratch from the Iditarod when she was close to the finish but didn't realise the full horror of either stories. Recovering from those events and carrying on to confront the demons shows some true grit. A musher will probably never earn the public admiration in the way other athletes do but her achievements are no less because of that. This book will stay with me for a long while. Thank you Bridgett for choosing to share your journey to the Burled Arch, warts and all.

[Manny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, Moving, and Beautifully Told

I’ve picked this book up a few times, but today I couldn’t put it down. Bridgett’s story is incredibly relatable and deeply inspiring. While I’ve known pieces of her journey from the outside, reading it in her own words—start to finish—gave me a much fuller picture of who she is and what she’s walked through.

Her storytelling is powerful and honest. I found myself moved to tears more than once—whether reading about her relationship with her dad, her bond with Scotty, or her search for meaning, both as a person and a parent. The way she shares her faith, her struggles, and her dreams is raw and real, and I think many readers will see parts of themselves in her story. Well done!

[Leanne Pribble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about perseverance

I saw Bridgett Watkins being interviewed on a local Arkansas TV station and was intrigued with her story. Boy, did she a story to tell of resilience and fortitude. From dealing with her parents divorcing and being moved around in her teen years to talking her Arkansas delta husband to make a life in Alaska. When it came to preparing and racing, could there be any more obstacles to endure. I love how she dug within and trusted her God given faith through it all. Inspiring, glad she wanted to share it with us.

[Orion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being from Alaska, this book brings back happy memories of watching and following the iditarod. Love to hear the adventure from the mushers perspective. I would love to have been a musher but my life took me in other places.

I love how she talks about God and how he guided her as well. It's refreshing to hear. Along with the struggles with family, life, job, etc.

Great read for sure. This one is going to stay on my shelf.

[Honi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following the Iditarod with my students for 4+ years. I really enjoyed this book and reading about the experiences Bridgett had as a child and on her way to the burled arch. I shared the incredible and devastating moose encounter with my students. We were all in tears. I am constantly reminded how much mushers love their dogs. Good luck Bridgett, enjoy it all. 🐾

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!

A wonderful and well written read, very inspiring and informative. As a fan of mushing and the Iditarod since my first trip to Alaska in 2011, I absolutely loved the inside look. May the Lord continue to bless Bridgett and her family!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for book club. While I enjoyed her story, I felt like she left out a lot of pieces that would have tied more of her journey together.