Ghost Trails

by Jill Homer

Most sports become inspirational when extraordinary people excel at ordinary things. In ultra-endurance racing, ordinary people must excel at extraordinary things. "Ghost Trails" is the true story of an ordinary person - timid, nonathletic, raised in the suburbs of Salt Lake City - and her unlikely route to one of the most difficult bicycle races in the world, a 350-mile epic along Alaska's frozen Iditarod trail. Through her struggles and intimate confrontations with her fears and weaknesses, she discovers the surprising destination of her life's trails.

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure, Memoir, Bicycles

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

In _Ghost Trails_, Jill Homer alternates a linear narrative of her bike race on the Iditarod trail with stories from further back in her past. The Iditarod story is gripping, in the same way that Jack London stories are. Outdoor memoirs have a certain disadvantage in terms of suspense–obviously the author survived–but Jill keeps you fascinated. The other, more autobiographical narrative is equally compelling, with each moment left more on its own. Jill resists the memoirist’s pitfall of explaining why every moment matters, instead letting things play out on their own poignant terms. (see a more substantial review on my blog at: http://allkindsofbikes.wordpress.com/...)

[Nada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com...

Ghost Trails is a story of a journey - physical and emotional. Jill Homer is an ultra-cyclist, participating in extreme bicycle race events. This book is the story of Jill Homer's journey on a 350 mile race along the Alaskan Iditarod Trail. Yes, a 350 mile bicycle race across the frozen Alaskan wilderness! This book is also the story of how she came to that sport and that race.

I have not followed her blog. Nor am I familiar with the world of ultra-athletes. The courage these athletes show and the challenges they choose to face are absolutely amazing. I do not completely understand it and have no intention of following in her footsteps, but it is an inspirational feat to witness. I commend her commitment to the sport. I commend her ability to pull a reader into an experience that most of us could never imagine.

The first book I read by Ms. Homer was titled Be Brave, Be Strong: Journey Across the Great Divide. That book chronicles her participation in a almost 2,800 mile race along the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. It completely immerses the reader in the experience of the race. This book unfortunately fails to do so. The chapters of this book alternate between the race and descriptions of past events that led to her becoming a cyclist. Each is individually interesting. However, the intensity of the race experience is broken at the end of each chapter, and that is disconcerting. I wanted to go along with her on the race and stay with that experience.

***Reviewed for LibraryThing member giveaway program***

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a First Reads winner. I was beyond excited to start reading this book. I of course had heard of the Iditarod Trail and the dog racing but I had no idea that there was ultra endurance event across the same trail. Reading about Jill's experience traveling the 350 miles by bike through the snow of the Iditarod Trail was amazing. I particularly enjoyed the alternating chapters of her race experience with the background of how she got to place in her life where she decided to participate in such an event.

Being a runner and having friends who compete in endurance events I found it insanely interesting to be inside her head as she spent 6 days getting herself through the desolate trail of Alaska. Completing any endurance sport is just as much mental perseverance as it is physical and I found myself wondering just how she managed to keep on going.

A great read for anyone who has an interest in endurance sports or just even an interest in the human psyche as it relates to pushing your limits.

[Juneau Public Library]

Ghost Trails is a memoir written by a former Juneau resident about growing up in Utah, moving to Alaska and what led her to participate in The Iditarod Trail Invitational, a snow bike race on the Iditarod Trail. The memoir focuses on Homer’s experiences hiking the Utah desert, biking across the continental U.S., as well as training and participating in the I.T.I. I really enjoyed this book because I found Homer easy to relate to and her stories are very honest and empowering. I get a distinct sense of “If she can do it, I can do it!” from this book. I love reading trail stories and Homer is an expert at bringing the trail to life.

Recommended by Alli

[Kathrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am following Jill Homer's blog on and off for years and I really enjoy it, mostly because her blog posts always feel so crafted and thought through.

This was my first book that I have read by her and I equally enjoyed following her along during the Iditarod Invitational. The way that her progress during the race was accompanied by stories that explained how she gotten into bicycling and to Alaska in the first place was very nicely done.

I read the kindle version of the book and the formatting wasn't without issue, but the pictures came out nice. Sometimes pictures on the Kindle look deformed and that wasn't the case here.

[Phillip Barron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jill knows how to set a scene, recreate the complexity of an emotionally numb decision, and carry the reader from the comfort of the reading chair (most likely in climate controlled comfort) to the barren landscape and solitude of Alaska's Iditarod race. She's so honest (at times painfully honest) with the reader, that by the end of the story, you feel as though it is a friend who has been confessing doubts, fears, and moments of joy for the length of the book.

I look forward now to her story about the Great Divide Race.

[audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing met Pickets and Dead Men and a fistfight ensued. A gritty and gripping account of Homer's first attempt at the Iditarod Trail Invitational (350 miles across Alaska on a bike), each grueling chapter in Alaska is interspersed with chapters detailing how Homer went from a non-athlete to an uber-distance girl. It's also the story of her relationship with her then-bf, an ultrarunner.

A little overwrought in a few places but all in all a well-told tale from a fascinating life.

[Loran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book from Lulu before it his amazon based on reading Jill's blog. It's an excellent book. She describes her first Iditarod mountain bike race. Not even being aware that people did this, I was just amazed. She interchanges other "adventure" experiences she has had throughout her life with the story of the race. Great writing and fascinating story that gives a strange, vicarious thrill to the reader.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it took my a while to finish. I found the Iditarod story very engaging. however, it only occupies every other chapter. The chapters that come in between are made up of smaller adventures that color the main story. However, I found that many of these took away from the books momentum and made it a slog to get through. I skipped the last three or four of them. I have read her second book as well and much preferred it.

[Sharon Snider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written story of survival in a race most of us will only dream of making.

The author has a style of writing that makes you feel like you are experiencing the race with her. Once I start her books, I don't like to lay them down. I would recommend this book to dreamers that have passed the age of experiencing what Ms. Homer has but want details of what it is like to bike or walk 350 miles through Alaska.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Great story of adventure and personal growth. and even more than that, many "adventure" books share the author's trials and uncertainties throughout the process. But with Homer, I felt like I could actually be in her place. Her grudging pursuit of adventure, despite not being a natural athlete, is so familiar and encouraging.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have enjoyed this more but her book about the Great Divide was much better in almost every way. I came to loathe her boyfriend in her later book and his presence in this one made me more annoyed with him. I am sure he is a fine person but their relationship is not a good one.

I usually enjoy stories of these events but reading this I can't figure out why Jill does them at all.

[Yvonne Leutwyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those page-turners that is hard to put down. Having had similar experiences, albeit on a much smaller scale, I can sympathize with Jill as she goes through her trials and tribulations on her many adventures and journeys. Beautifully written, never boring, always inspiring.

[Thebestdogmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really good book by Jill. I read her book Be Brave, Be Strong first. Both were great. Such amazing feats she has accomplished. Not sure I could do these things under these conditions, But I sure enjoyed reading about her stories.

[Phillipa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite bloggers. Jill is an amazing endurance athlete, even if she doesn't quite believe it.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read, and really enjoy Jill's blog. Her writing has always drawn me in and I feel like she is a modest superwoman. It was just like reading an extended blog entry.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed the interspersing of the chapters - one on the Iditarod race and then one on a previous adventure, I often wanted to hear the end of the other adventures! I frequently felt frustrated when a chapter ended, because I felt like it wasn't a satisfactory conclusion. This is the first adventure book where I couldn't understand why the author went on these hiking and biking trips. In the other books, there is pain and discomfort and danger, but you get the sense that the author is either compelled to undergo these travails or just really loves the outdoors and challenge. I didn't get that sense from Homer; it seemed like she just followed her boyfriend around, although she clearly is very strong and has great endurance.

[Bob Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awe inspiring....

Reading this book will make you realize just how cushy of a life you are leading. It might also make you Want to go out and Push your own limits in some way. All of the people that do the iditarod race, in whatever form , Have my respect.

[Nola Vorbrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good writer

I really enjoy her books. She is very insightful. Her descriptions of her adventures and her feelings are the best I've ever read.

[Swapna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading it. Another level of adventure and push!

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal read. A story that had me riveted, shaking my head at some of the things Jill did but wanting to read how she got through them.