Bushwhack: a Serial Story of Off-trail Hiking & Camping in the Pacific Northwest Wilderness

Human nature, in its most raw and desperate form, is to survive; at any cost. What we did to ourselves, and to each other, in order to stay alive out in the dark and cold depths of the forest shocked and shamed us to our very cores. The out-of-control events changed us. Forever. For now we know how high the cost of surviving can be, and that we were willing to pay the price; even if it meant someone else did not survive as a consequence.

Three women, six men, and one dog, set out on a good-intentioned, multi-day, off-trail hiking adventure. Laughing, joking, even flirting with each other, it all starts out so well. Until... well, you'll have to read it to find out.

To experience this book as intended, as a serial story, please read only one chapter per day, if you can resist the temptation.

Originally posted as a serial trip report to an online hiking club's message board, the tragedy takes place in the raw and untamed wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. It was posted at the rate of a couple of sections per week. As the story unfolded, the readers had the unique opportunity to respond to the ongoing story with comments; their comments also being posted to the online message board, along with the story.

Some readers urged me on. Others demanded that I stop posting the short chapters of the story. Still others pleaded with the message board authorities to shut the story down and delete the entire thread. Some people loved the short, periodically-posted chapters, complete with cliff-hanger endings. Others hated the format and wanted it all at once, when completed in its entirety.

The trip report invoked quite an emotional literary response from many of the readers. The comments posted by the readers of this serial story are entertainment in themselves.

- I found this site via a friend of mine that came across such an interesting "story". I was at her house, small gathering, and she started talking about it with such intensity, that I found myself asking to read it. She said you won't be able to put it down... amongst our friends, at this small gathering, i started reading, and I couldn't put it down. I HAD to read more, and more and more, until the pages ran out..

- The story "Bushwacking etc." has me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next "bit" to trickle out.

- It became less of a story and more of an experiment. The fact it is still discussed is somewhat of a victory for Gerry to be sure, but a bitter one as well.

- Well at least it's entertaining, now shut up, go make some popcorn or something, the man's telling a story....

- Fact or fiction I'd like to hear more of the story. Otherwise I'll be forced to do my work.

- For the love of god man!! Finish the Story!!!!

- C'mon Gerry... I'm sitting here on the edge of my seat. I don't care if it's fiction or not, it's a good read!

- This is the single greatest thing I've reading a long time.

- Great read so far G. Group/Team dynamics... always very interesting, especially under various stresses. Looking forward to reading more when I get back.

- I'm on the edge of my seat here!!! Where's the next episode?

- Man, I'm eating this stuff up! Riveting!

- I love it!! Showcase late night material. I usually have a severe case of A. D. D when it comes to reading script but this stuff is brilliant.

- I wonder how many people are sitting at their desks reading this during their "extended" lunch breaks...

- I can't wait until the end!!! These instalments are killing me.

- This is a cool story; it must be good because I hate reading.

- This would make a good made for TV movie. No joke...totally serious.

- Just when I was losing interest and forgetting about this thread he goes and adds more to the story, and the cliff-hanger is the worst one of all... gaaaahhh!!!

- The long awaited continuation doesn't disappoint! Pretty intense.

- Wow, I read from 1-13 biting my nails the whole way. It was then I realized this is one of those segment stories!