TRUE NATURE: Hidden in the High Sierra

Bestselling Adventure Memoir
2025 PenCraft Best Book Award Winner for literary excellence

“Equal parts ambitious adventure, courageous truth, and wit.” — Kirkus
“A soul-stirring journey that will change how you see the wilderness, and yourself.” — Reader Views
“True Nature is a gem that proves the best discoveries aren’t on any map.” Independent

Perfect for fans of Wild, Desert Solitaire, and My First Summer in the Sierra.

"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 life throws at you."

For thirty years, Michelle has been a junkie for adventure—chasing the high that comes at places with no trail markers and no easy way out. True Nature is the raw, unflinching story of what happens when you venture into secluded wilderness, 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. The hidden waterfalls and glacial blue lakes of the Sierra weren’t just destinations—they were mirrors.

Written with gritty humor and brutal honesty, these stories tell 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.

If you liked Wild → you’ll connect with the brutal honesty and personal journey aspect.
If you liked Desert Solitaire → you’ll appreciate the gritty humor and candid wilderness philosophy
If you liked My First Summer in the Sierra → you’ll see it as a modern, edgier continuation of Sierra writing.