Several people have been instrumental in seeing me through what turned into a long and difficult journey to the end of this project. My mother, Joan, and my sister, Arlene, gave me unflagging support and encouragement that kept me going on even the bleakest days. Arlene read the manuscript from the perspective of a non-hiker, while Megan Ballard read each chapter with the critical eye of a hiker who has walked many of the trails described. Their suggestions were invaluable and always insightful. But I take full responsibility for any deficiencies in the final product where I failed to heed their advice.
Walter and Marjorie Danylak propped up my sagging confidence, while Walter displayed the patience of Job when it came to my many phone calls and emails about photo resolution and the mysteries of the camera. To these good friends I say many, many thanks.
I would also like to thank the following people, whose contributions of time and photographs were essential to the completion of this project. Many were hiking buddies on the trails described in this book. My sincere apologies if I have missed anyone along the way.
Chapter 1, Mount Sinai: Sally Ma, Wendy Fung, Kent Klatchuk and Marjorie Danylak.
Chapter 2, Great Wall of China: Tristan Cossey, Sally Ma, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Jackie Peers of Walk Hong Kong.
Chapter 3, Larapinta Trail: Colin Mann, Chris Buykx of World Expeditions, Shelagh O’Brien of Glen Helen Resort, Monika Tonkin, Carly Saunders and Lucy Stark of Tourism NT and Amy Warren of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Chapter 4, Milford Track: Peta Bamber of Ultimate Hikes and Lindsey Shields and Clare Manners of the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Chapter 5, Cotswold Way National Trail: Audra McSherry of Bath Tourism and James Blockley, National Trail Officer of the Cotswold Way.
Chapter 6, Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail: Rob Dingle, National Trail Officer of Offa’s Dyke Path.
Chapter 7, Waterton Lakes National Park: Nathan Andrews, Pat Hughes, Walter Danylak, Colleen F. Bains, Bernie McMahon, Carey Tetzlaff of Waterton Outdoor Adventures, Adria Lund at the Glenbow Archives and Jennifer Burnell at Parks Canada.
Chapter 8, Chilkoot Trail: Bobbie-Lynne Brock, Sylvia Fowler, Mark Waldbillig of Sea to Sky Expeditions, Leighann Chalykoff of the MacBride Museum of Yukon History and Adria Lund at the Glenbow Archives.
Chapter 9, Big Bend National Park: Megan Ballard, Bernie McMahon, Betsy Devlin, Johan Maertens, Samuel Feldman, Anne Cook of the Texas Department of Transportation and Claudia Arnberger of the United States National Park Service.
Chapter 10, Yosemite National Park: Lisa P. Freeman, Paul Lycett, Sandy Brennan, Gwenyth Barrow of the Yosemite National Park Archives and Linda Eade of the Yosemite Research Library.
Chapter 11, Patagonia: Robert A. Mitchell Jr. and Debra Garside. Check out Debra’s outstanding collection of professional photographs at www.truenorthfineimages.com.