When I opened Hikeological Escape, I expected a straightforward travel memoir, but what I found was a layered story of self-discovery told through two epic journeys: the Camino Santiago and the Pacific Crest Trail. Chris “Windscreen” Homan begins in Saudi Arabia, stuck in an expat life that feels suffocating, and from there his story unravels into a series of steps, literal and spiritual, that lead him through mountains, deserts, and questions of faith, belonging, and identity. It’s not just a story about hiking. It’s about what happens when someone walks away from conformity and comfort in order to face the messy, liberating chaos of being human.

What struck me most was the honesty in Homan’s writing. He doesn’t polish his doubts or hide his discomfort. He lets them sit in the open. There’s humor here, sometimes dark, sometimes lighthearted, and it balances well against the rawer moments of pain or uncertainty. At times I laughed at his dry commentary, and other times I felt the weight of his solitude press down on me. The descriptions of trail life, like cowboy camping, battling hunger, and trading banter with strangers, made me feel like I was walking alongside him, sweating under the same sun. Yet beneath all of that, I could sense the real story: the struggle of someone trying to reconcile a fractured sense of purpose with the beauty of the present moment.

I also admired how he handled spirituality. There’s no preaching, no easy answers. Instead, the book lingers in the gray space between faith and skepticism. He questions, he wrestles, he admits what he doesn’t know. I felt both challenged and comforted by his willingness to leave questions unresolved. His alter ego, Windscreen, gives the narrative a slightly mythic quality, and I liked how it blurred the line between storytelling and confession. The voice is casual, almost like a long conversation with a good friend who isn’t afraid to tell you the truth, even if it stings a little.

By the end, I realized this isn’t just a book about hiking or travel. It’s a meditation on freedom, risk, and what it takes to feel alive. I would recommend Hikeological Escape to anyone who feels stuck in their own routines, anyone who’s toyed with the idea of walking away, or anyone who just loves a good story about taking chances. Homan reminds us that sometimes losing the path we thought we needed is exactly how we find ourselves again.

Pages: 332 | ASIN : B0FJZQWP94