Trespassing Across America

One Man’s Epic, Never-Done-Before (and Sort of Illegal) Hike Across the Heartland

By: Ken Ilgunas

Narrated by: Andrew Eiden

Told with sincerity, humor, and wit, Trespassing Across America is both a fascinating account of one man's remarkable journey along the Keystone XL pipeline and a meditation on climate change, the beauty of the natural world, and the extremes to which we can push ourselves - both physically and mentally.

It started as a far-fetched idea - to hike the entire length of the proposed route of the Keystone XL pipeline. But in the months that followed, it grew into something more for Ken Ilgunas.

It became an irresistible adventure - an opportunity not only to draw attention to global warming but to explore his personal limits. So in September 2012, he strapped on his backpack, stuck out his thumb on the interstate just north of Denver, Colorado, and hitchhiked 1,500 miles to the Alberta tar sands. Once there, he turned around and began his 1,900-mile trek to the XL's endpoint on the Gulf Coast of Texas, a journey he would complete entirely on foot, almost exclusively walking across private property.

Both a travel memoir and a reflection on climate change, Trespassing Across America is filled with colorful characters, harrowing physical trials, and strange encounters with the weather, terrain, and animals of America's plains. A tribute to the Great Plains and the people who live there, Ilgunas' memoir grapples with difficult questions about our place in the world: What is our personal responsibility as stewards of the land? As members of a rapidly warming planet? As mere individuals up against something as powerful as the fossil fuel industry? Ultimately, Trespassing Across America is a call to embrace the belief that a life lived not half wild is a life only half lived.

©2016 Ken Ilgunas (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Overall worth the read

I found this book randomly while searching for bikepacking guides, and I've been listening to it on my train and walking commute in NYC. It has been a highlight of my last few weeks, and I definitely caught some of the book's own nostalgia as I neared the end. There are a few sections that could have been pared down or left out (especially self-effacing or ego-centric journal entry-type narratives, although sometimes endearing). At other times one wonders if the author would have more authentic and interesting conversations if he just grew a spine and was more up-front with his interlocutors. But just as I would get frustrated, I would stumble on wonderfully entertaining writing and some truly enlightened insights. Ilgunas holds very little back, and curing these defects would definitely make a different book. As a millennial, I identified with the strengths and weaknesses and inner thoughts of the author, which made it a truly meaningful read. I will also miss the Plains!

although

although our views are exactly opposite politically and religiously he was not naggy and brought up informative views on climate change and his experiences and adventure from Canada to Texas were fun to listen to

A lesson in history.

I read this for the adventure and came away with a history lesson.
Great wealth of information. Great writing.

It's Okay

I bought this book based on the first one which was awesome. I gave it three stars because I didn't like the narrator. He tried too hard and had a snobby tone. At some points I felt like I was being lectured and scolded and other parts the liberal cliches were so thick and speeches so long, my eyes never stopped rolling. This book was way more political than I thought and if I could have returned it I probably would have. If you don't mind the intermittent chapters of leftist liberal speeches on the environment and propery rights then this book is for you. I can overlook his glaring leftist politics because I'm not totally off the alt.right cliff. I got a deal on the book and audio book for five dollars so it wasn't a total loss.

WONDERFUL

This was such a fantastic read, def going on my list of Xmas presents to give this year. Great message and very thought provoking.

Loved every minute of it

Environmental and adventure into one. Ken was able to capture the importance of keeping our home planet environmentally safe while captivating us into a wild adventure.

I hoped for more hiking details

I listened to this because I was desperate for another thru-hiking book. As such, it is more about the Keystone Pipeline than the actual hike, but the hiking parts are still good. The author did a decent job of sticking to the pipeline and didn’t venture too far into liberal politics. He tried to represent both sides of the pipeline issues.

Still relevant...

The thoughts the writer has towards the end of this book and the parallels he draws between the pipeline and science deniers and Lincoln’s quote perfectly sum up the issues we currently face with COVID-19. Again, we as a country face such a large group of “free thinking” and such independent “freedom loving” science deniers that mistrust data and facts.

I enjoyed the stories of the people you met along the way and how you grew as a person. Excellent read! Highly recommend.

Enjoyed for the environmental views, the adventure

Enjoyed for the environmental views, the adventure, the hiking journey, the idea of crossing the country on foot, the people you'd meet... some gems of writing now and then but not a masterpiece... story intrigued me... brings up compelling questions along the way (most I have asked myself before but still enjoyed hearing)... I like the honesty in his self discoveries.. the fear of cows made me laugh (being a country girl from Texas who has never considered a cow to scary, maybe a mean bull but not pasture cows, lol)... loved the instances of kindness and generosity shown... I will be looking up his blog and most likely checking out other books he has published.

Listened to it twice! Great book.

An authentic account of the author's adventure through the Great Plains and a thoughtful examination of the impact of the pipeline. Such great detail I could practically smell his weary hiker stink (in a good way)! Ilgunas includes various POVs of colorful landowners and discusses his own hypocrisy as a consumer in the petroleum era (reminded me a bit of Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire in that regard). He leaves the listener with the hope that the next generation will put a stop to the debate of global warming, accept it as fact and take action to undo the environmental harm of past generations. Fantastic book! So many great thoughts! A true book of adventure.