“Unearthing Resilience: Amanda K. Jaros’s Epic Journey Along the Appalachian Trail Reveals Life Lessons Beyond the Trek”
Jaros’s prose is immersive, pulling readers into her over-prepared journey. Her detailed gear lists, which at first glance could easily be dismissed as extraneous detail, reveal the weight of her mindset: preparation equals security.
In My Boots is more than a compelling narrative northward. Jaros offers readers with interests beyond the Appalachian Trail much to appreciate. Anyone interested in feminist explorations of family dynamics and narratives of place will appreciate how Jaros uses setting as a lens for reflection and weaves flashbacks of childhood into her journey. As she hikes, Jaros reframes self-trust—not as foresight or preparation, but as the skills, instincts, and resilience to adapt, to face uncertainty, and to find solutions in the moment.
