When Geraldine “Gerry” Largay (AT trail name, Inchworm) first went missing on the Appalachian Trail in remote western Maine in 2013, the people of Maine were wrought with concern. When she was not found, the family, the wardens, and the Navy personnel who searched for her were devastated. The Maine Warden Service continued to follow leads for more than a year. They never completely gave up the … search. Two years after her disappearance, her bones and scattered possessions were found by chance by two surveyors. She was on the U.S. Navy’s SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) School land, about 2,100 feet from the Appalachian Trail.
This book tells the story of events preceding Geraldine Largay’s vanishing in July 2013, while hiking the Appalachian Trail in Maine, what caused her to go astray, and the massive search and rescue operation that followed. Her disappearance sparked the largest lost-person search in Maine history, which culminated in her being presumed dead. She was never again seen alive. The author was one of the hundreds of volunteers who searched for her. Gerry’s story is one of heartbreak, most assuredly, but is also one of perseverance, determination, and faith. For her family and the searchers, especially the Maine Warden Service, it is also a story of grave sorrow.
Marrying the joys and hardship of life in the outdoors, as well as exploring the search & rescue community, When You Find My Body examines dying with grace and dignity. There are lessons in the story, both large and small. Lessons that may well save lives in the future.
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This is a very good book that any hiker or person that enters the woods should read.
Without being boring or lecturing the reader it makes very clear that basic skills like being able to use a compass and know how to start a fire etc can prevent a terrible outcome. Just following the one rule to not move as soon as you notice that you are lost, if you don’t have survival skills, will most likely lead to a better ending.
It tells the story of Gerry and George, a wonderful couple, that make her big dream of hiking the AT come true. The preparations, the hike, her getting lost, all the rescue attempts and emotions of some the unsuccessful rescue members. Without blaming her or other hikers it shows that basic survival knowledge is imperative for anyone exploring nature and that it can make all the difference.
I was a bit disappointed that Gerry’s family didn’t seem to support this book as it is also a hommage to a wonderful woman.
I requested this book from NetGalley and am thankful that Rowman & Littlefield and the author provided me with an advance copy.
Geraldine Largay hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2013. That’s where she disappeared. She was presumed dead after a year of searches produced no body, no clues to what happened. This case became the largest lost-person search in Maine history.
Two years after her disappearance , her bones and scattered possessions were found by chance. She was on the U.S. Navy’s SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) School land, about 2,100 feet from the Appalachian Trail.
This author was one of the hundreds of volunteers who searched for her.
This book tells the story of events preceding Geraldine’s vanishing, and what went wrong, and describes the massage search and rescue operation that followed her disappearance.
This is a well-written account of not only the victim, but of the sorrow of an entire community, the saddened hearts of those who searched and searched and never gave up looking.
Many thanks to the author / Rowman & Littlefield – Down East Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this Biography/Memoir. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
First, I want to thank D. Dauphinee, Down East Books and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
If you enjoy learning about all aspects of the Appalachian Trail in Maine, an avid hiker, or enjoy a good missing person story then When You Find My Body by D. Duauphine is for you. This is the story of the disappearance of Geraldine Largay on the Appalachian Trail.
What drew me to this book was the cover and the title of the book. Kudos to the graphic artist who nailed the cover work spot on and grasped the concept of the book.
As stated in the author note this book is more of a reporting of what happened to Geraldine and not a biography of what happened to her on the trail. This book is to not only to celebrate Gerry’s life but also her spirit of adventure, her yearning for lifelong scholarship, and her will to pursue her dreams and her faith.
My heart ached for Gerry who became lost in the woods for months on end and for the loved ones she left behind. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Gerry trying to survive. Let alone her loved ones worrying and searching for her. My heart goes out to the family and their loved ones.
This book is dedicated to Raymond Dauphinee Sr. who taught D. Dauphinee what to do if he were to ever be lost in the woods.
D. Dauphinee did a lot of research and shared a lot of educational information on the Appalachian Trail. For those who enjoy learning about history and the trails they hike on this would also be a perfect book for you.
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I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. I had followed the news coverage of Geraldine “Gerry” Largay’s disappearance so I did know who she was. The book was fascinating not only because it told her story, but it also explained how it could have happened that she got lost. It helped make sense of what so many of us couldn’t understand and corrected some of the misconceptions during the search for her.
What is unique about this book is the author showed us what hiking the Appalachian Trail was like, he gave us facts, stories about other hikers and also others that had been lost in the Maine woods. There is information in here if someone is lost in the woods what they should do, there is also what one should do to prepare for going into the woods. I found it interesting when I learned that thru-hikers preparing to walk the AT doesn’t prepare for the possibility of getting lost. This book is a treasure trove of useful information, a glimpse into walking the AT trail and I want to say a different point of view of walking the AT trail. I learned a lot reading this book and even though it had facts and different aspects it was a story that just flowed along and made for a very interesting read.
There wasn’t any blame, the author just wanted this to be part of Geraldine “Gerry” Largay legacy, and a way of helping others from all that was learned. I highly recommend this book and whether you are thinking about walking the AT, going into the woods, hiking, mountain climbing, or just love a good mystery, this is a book you will be glad you read.