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Bombs to Trails: Interweaving Heritage, Life, and PTSD on the Pacific Crest Trail
In an effort to set the Southbound Fastest Known Time record on the Pacific Crest Trail, Jessica Pekari sets off on an adventure to hike from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. Pekari is an ultrarunner and used to pushing her body to its limits, but the challenges she faces on the trail test both her physical and mental endurance. As a veteran, she finds herself battling with flashbacks from her days as a medic in the U.S. Army as she discovers more about herself and her Blackfeet and Mexican heritage.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2021
6 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 7, 2022
I’ve read many books regarding people’s journeys on the Pacific or Appalachian trails. Usually, these tales involve helpless people venturing outdoors to “find themselves.” Although these stories can be dramatic and funny, they fall flat for me because they usually don’t meet the basic requirements of an enduring wilderness trek. Instead, these hikers build an entire story from minor mistakes that could have been avoided with preparation beforehand.
I was dying for a story where real drama and unexpected turns occur to someone who has put their heart and soul into preparing for an ultimate adventure, and “Bombs to Trails” by Jessica Pekari hits all the marks.
Pekari is an accomplished endurance racer, mother and veteran who shares her story of facing an ultimate long-distance challenge, trying to set the self-supported Fastest Known Time record for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) going southbound. This means hiking the 2,650 miles with no outside help. No woman has done it. The Fastest Known Time Record was set in 2011 by Scott Williamson in 64 days,11 hours and 19 minutes to give you a reference. The hike alone is enough for anyone, and not surprisingly, Pekari faces many challenges during her trek.
The reader will uncover a story filled with physical pain, endurance, a battle with PTSD and finding the beauty in family and culture. The story starts with a dramatic opening and reads at a fast clip as if you are trying to set the record yourself. And the twists and turns of daily life aren’t escaped by hiding in the wilderness for months. The story has plenty of action-packed scenes to keep the adventure moving down the trail mile by mile.
One of the beautiful aspects of this book is the unique culture of the Black Feet tribe that Pekari is a member of. It isn’t common to find these stories on most bookshelves. Pekari’s storytelling shines when she speaks about her heritage and family ties. Any reader can tell that family is essential to the author’s soul.
I was dying for a story where real drama and unexpected turns occur to someone who has put their heart and soul into preparing for an ultimate adventure, and “Bombs to Trails” by Jessica Pekari hits all the marks.
Pekari is an accomplished endurance racer, mother and veteran who shares her story of facing an ultimate long-distance challenge, trying to set the self-supported Fastest Known Time record for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) going southbound. This means hiking the 2,650 miles with no outside help. No woman has done it. The Fastest Known Time Record was set in 2011 by Scott Williamson in 64 days,11 hours and 19 minutes to give you a reference. The hike alone is enough for anyone, and not surprisingly, Pekari faces many challenges during her trek.
The reader will uncover a story filled with physical pain, endurance, a battle with PTSD and finding the beauty in family and culture. The story starts with a dramatic opening and reads at a fast clip as if you are trying to set the record yourself. And the twists and turns of daily life aren’t escaped by hiding in the wilderness for months. The story has plenty of action-packed scenes to keep the adventure moving down the trail mile by mile.
One of the beautiful aspects of this book is the unique culture of the Black Feet tribe that Pekari is a member of. It isn’t common to find these stories on most bookshelves. Pekari’s storytelling shines when she speaks about her heritage and family ties. Any reader can tell that family is essential to the author’s soul.
December 27, 2021
A Great Read!
This is one of the best stories I have read concerning hiking and, specifically, hiking the PCT. I loved the honesty and truthfulness with which Jessica writes.
Thank you for sharing your story with all of us! Who knew when we met you briefly on the PCT that we would be reading your book one day! What a pleasure!!
This is one of the best stories I have read concerning hiking and, specifically, hiking the PCT. I loved the honesty and truthfulness with which Jessica writes.
Thank you for sharing your story with all of us! Who knew when we met you briefly on the PCT that we would be reading your book one day! What a pleasure!!
September 15, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of Bombs to Trails in exchange for an honest review.
This book drew me in from the first pages and I didn’t want it to end. Jessica Pekari writes with a balance that is rare in outdoor adventure books. She covers the gear and trail conditions, the emotions that surface during a thru-hike, the good and the bad, her big goal, her family, her culture, and her backstory without glossing over any of it.
What makes her story so compelling is how vulnerable and relatable she is. She shares moments of strength alongside moments of struggle, and it all feels authentic. She is upfront about the fact that she did not achieve her goal of setting an unsupported FKT on the Pacific Crest Trail, and that honesty made the book feel even more genuine. Her record of endurance races is impressive, especially given the demands of being a mother, an athlete, and the wife of a deployed spouse. Her willingness to be open about trauma, heritage, and healing gave the story a depth that has stayed with me.
I’ve read many outdoor adventure memoirs, and this one stands out for its honesty and balance. Reading books written by women about women having adventures in the outdoors is my favorite genre, and Bombs to Trails is an excellent addition to that shelf. As a mother and a day hiker who dreams of completing a thru-hike one day, I found Pekari’s perspective both inspiring and encouraging.
I hope she takes on another long trail and writes about it, because I would read it right away.
This book drew me in from the first pages and I didn’t want it to end. Jessica Pekari writes with a balance that is rare in outdoor adventure books. She covers the gear and trail conditions, the emotions that surface during a thru-hike, the good and the bad, her big goal, her family, her culture, and her backstory without glossing over any of it.
What makes her story so compelling is how vulnerable and relatable she is. She shares moments of strength alongside moments of struggle, and it all feels authentic. She is upfront about the fact that she did not achieve her goal of setting an unsupported FKT on the Pacific Crest Trail, and that honesty made the book feel even more genuine. Her record of endurance races is impressive, especially given the demands of being a mother, an athlete, and the wife of a deployed spouse. Her willingness to be open about trauma, heritage, and healing gave the story a depth that has stayed with me.
I’ve read many outdoor adventure memoirs, and this one stands out for its honesty and balance. Reading books written by women about women having adventures in the outdoors is my favorite genre, and Bombs to Trails is an excellent addition to that shelf. As a mother and a day hiker who dreams of completing a thru-hike one day, I found Pekari’s perspective both inspiring and encouraging.
I hope she takes on another long trail and writes about it, because I would read it right away.
February 8, 2022
This book transported me to the trail with the author. While I was reading it, I could picture in my mind the amazing views, the peace and the struggle. I am impressed with the amount of preparation, challenges encountered, mental and physical strength needed in that type of journey. I was so inspired and amazed with her ability to adapt and convince herself that everything will be fine while facing a challenge. I have never hiked the PCT but I could totally relate with her story. Every life struggle requires the ability to stop, assess, think, adapt and accept things we cannot control. If you want inspiration, this is the book you should read.
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January 11, 2022Jessica Pekari is a remarkable human being who has written a remarkable account of hiking one of the U.S.'s most difficult and longest hiking trails. She is a super marathoner, a mother of five, a former soldier, a woman with Native American family roots. She's got a wonderful spirit, as revealed in this book.
January 10, 2022
Read this book.
January 30, 2024
nicely done, and she's a wapato alum! yakima here, so was nice to see a story from a local.
July 9, 2024
I was inspired by her never give up attitude, despite any setback. (I probably would have given up on day 1 and waited for better conditions, but she just didn’t stop going!)
April 28, 2022
One of the best books I've ever read. Amazing adventure story. My favorite part was reading about her friend Jordan and how inspirational she was.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews