"Most people think wilderness is where you go to find yourself. They're wrong. Wilderness is where you go when you're running from yourself—and if you run far enough, nature will teach you how to survive almost anything the world throws at you."

For thirty years, Michelle has been a junkie for altitude—chasing the high that only comes at 10,000 feet, in places with no trail markers and no easy way out. True Nature is the raw story of what happens when you need secluded wilderness to survive, and what those wild places can teach you.

True Nature isn’t about conquering massive mountains or logging thousands of miles. It’s about using wilderness to discover your own true nature when things get tough. About the satisfaction gained at locating a 13-million-year-old geological marvel they said didn’t exist. About losing your best friend and discovering that grief has no trail map. About learning that the hidden waterfalls and glacial blue lakes of the Sierra Nevada weren’t just destinations—they were mirrors.

Written with gritty humor and brutal honesty, True Nature: Hidden in the High Sierra tells the ugly truth about what happens when you’re willing to get lost to find yourself. And unlike typical memoirs, Michelle includes clues to the amazing hidden places that changed her life.
 
“From face-licking bears to teetering on the precipice of life and death in a raging river. This is not your typical outdoor adventure story. True Nature is a soul stirring journey that will change how you see the wilderness, and yourself.”
Reader Views Judge​
 
“True Nature is a gem that proves the best discoveries aren’t on any map.” 
Independent
 
“Equal parts ambitious adventure, unflinching truth, and courageous wit.” 
Kirkus