TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Cover

  Title Page

  Chapter 1: Hiking

  Chapter 2: What’s the Big Deal?

  Chapter 3: Wrong Turn

  Chapter 4: What Are We Going to Do?

  Chapter 5: An Unexpected Guest

  Chapter 6: Sleepless Night

  Chapter 7: A Rookie Mistake

  Chapter 8: Beware of Bears

  Chapter 9: Help!

  Chapter 10: Safe and Sound

  Author Bio

  Illustrator Bio

  Glossary

  Discussion Questions

  Writing Prompts

  That’s a Lot of Hiking

  What About the Bears?

  Explore More

  Copyright

  Back Cover

  CHAPTER 1

  HIKING

  “Marlon Anthony Keys, turn off your phone and listen to what your father and I are trying to tell you,” Mom said from the front seat of the family SUV. “We’ll be at Shenandoah National Park soon.”

  “OK, OK, fine,” twelve-year-old Marlon grumbled. He rolled his eyes at his friend on the other end of the video chat. “Troy, I have to hang up. My parents are forcing me to go hiking and camping with them on some dumb trail.”

  “The Appalachian Trail, dear,” Mom retorted.

  Troy looked surprised. “The Appalachian Trail? That sounds so cool!”

  Marlon snorted. “What’s so cool about it? I’m going to miss your birthday party because we have to go wander around in the woods and do some bird-watching.”

  “This trip is more than just looking at birds,” Dad corrected as he navigated down the highway. “It’s about us spending time together, learning, and enjoying the wonders of nature.”

  “I can enjoy the wonders of nature in our backyard,” Marlon joked. “Couldn’t we have just roasted marshmallows there?”

  “That’s it, hang up right now, or I’m taking your phone away for the rest of the trip!” Mom said. “You’ve already missed so much of the wonderful scenery because you’ve been on your phone the whole drive.”

  Marlon sighed. They’d been in the car for hours—ever since leaving Chicago at the crack of dawn. The last thing he wanted to do was go on a trip through the wilderness. It would be even worse if he had to do it without his phone.

  “Later, Troy,” Marlon muttered.

  “Later!” Troy said as he ended the call.

  Marlon put his phone away and sighed again. “I don’t see what the big deal is about walking in the woods. It’s just a bunch of trees and bugs out there. We could be doing something way cooler instead. Why this?”

  “The great outdoors is more than just trees and bugs,” Mom said. “And hiking can be more dangerous than you think. You need to pay attention or you could put yourself at serious risk.”

  “I doubt it,” Marlon muttered under his breath.

  “What was that?” Dad said.

  “Nothing,” Marlon said, turning to stare out the window. As far as he was concerned, the sooner this trip was over, the better.

  CHAPTER 2

  WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?

  Three hours later, the Keys family finally arrived at Shenandoah National Park. Dad parked the car, and everyone climbed out.

  Marlon stood and stretched his legs. He was glad to finally be out of the car, even if they did seem to be in the middle of nowhere.

  Mom and Dad grabbed the hiking gear. Marlon struggled to put on his backpack. It was harder than he’d expected.

  “Why do they make these things so hard to put on?” he whined.

  “We tried to show you how to put your pack on before we left home, but you couldn’t be bothered,” Dad said.

  “I was busy,” Marlon grumbled.

  “Yeah, too busy to even pack your own bag,” Mom retorted. “I had to do it for you. It’s like you don’t even appreciate this vacation.”

  “You need to adjust your attitude,” Dad said. “You’re too attached to your phone. Maybe if you unplugged sometimes you’d see the health benefits.”

  Marlon didn’t say anything. He was sick of his parents always giving him a hard time about being on his phone. How else was he supposed to talk to his friends?

  After a few more minutes of struggling with the straps, Marlon finally managed to get his backpack on. It weighed a ton. Together, he and his parents headed to the rangers’ office. As they entered, a uniformed man greeted them.

  “Good afternoon!” he said, smiling at them. “I’m Ranger James. Welcome to Shenandoah National Park, one part of the massive Appalachian Trail. Checking in?”

  “Yes,” said Marlon’s dad. “We’re the Keys family.”

  “Ah, I’ve been expecting you. You’re all set up for a cabin share with the Sharma family,” Ranger James said. “Follow me, and I’ll introduce you to them.”

  Marlon rolled his eyes. We have to share a room with another family? Ugh. Great, more people I don’t want to be around.

  Ranger James led Marlon and his parents out of the office and down a winding, rutted dirt trail. Lush chestnut trees lined the path.

  As they walked, Marlon saw a spider sitting in the middle of a massive web. The creature sat suspended between two of the chestnut trees.

  Ugh, I hate bugs, Marlon thought with a shiver. Just seeing the spider made him itch uncomfortably.

  A few moments later, they arrived at the cabin. Marlon looked at the run-down living quarters and sighed. The covered front porch housed a set of dusty old rocking chairs, and an outdoor fireplace was set up a few feet away. The cabin was definitely big enough for two families, but not big enough for Marlon to have space for himself.

  Hopefully this place has electricity, he thought.

  “Here we are,” Ranger James said. “Cabin fifteen.” He opened the door to the cabin. Inside, another family was already settling in.

  “Keys family, meet the Sharmas,” Ranger James said. “I’m sure you’re all tired from traveling, but there’s a chance we might have some storms tomorrow on your group hike. Let’s discuss some tips for hiking in bad weather after you’ve finished settling in.”

  As Marlon’s parents greeted the other adults, a girl who looked to be about Marlon’s age walked over.

  “Hi,” she said. “I’m Nadia.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Marlon replied. “I’m Marlon. Did your parents drag you on this trip too?”

  Nadia shook her head. “It was actually my idea,” she said. “This is my fourth hiking trip, but I’ve never been on the trail before. What about you? Are you a big hiker too?”

  Great, Marlon thought. Another outdoor enthusiast.

  He shook his head. “Nope. But it looks like I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

  Before Nadia could respond, Ranger James addressed the group again.

  “You’re all scheduled to take a group hike on the trail tomorrow,” he said, “so make sure to use your maps to stay on the safe pathways.”

  I’d rather stay off all pathways, Marlon thought. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

  “It’s up to your group if you plan to do an up-and-back or camp overnight on the trail,” the ranger continued. He studied both families. “Does everyone here know what ‘up-and-back’ means?”

  Nadia raised her hand. “It’s when you turn around and retrace your steps, heading back to where you started, on a hike,” she replied.

  “That’s right!” said Ranger James. “You should also be prepared tomorrow if thunderstorms roll through while you’re on the trail. Make sure you have the essentials: water, poncho, snacks, flashlight, first-aid kit, and your tent.”

  “Can’t we just come back if it rains?” Marlon asked. “Or use our phones to call for help?”

  Ranger James nodded. “Some folks enjoy the experience of camping in the rain, but if the storms are really bad, I would suggest coming back to your cabin,” he said. “But as for the second part of your question, there’s no cell phone reception out on the trail. Using your phone out there is a waste of time.”

  Marlon’s mother turned toward him and winked. “Did you hear that, Marlon? You’ll have to live without your phone tomorrow.”

  Marlon shrugged. “We’re only walking through the woods,” he said. “I think I’ll survive.”

  CHAPTER 3

  WRONG TURN

  The next day, the two families woke up early. Everyone except Marlon seemed eager for the group hike on the Appalachian Trail. Everyone loaded up their packs and set off through the oak-hickory forest. The adults walked together in the front, while Marlon and Nadia brought up the rear.

  The group hiked past clusters of colorful mushrooms and patches of moss that grew on the trees. Massive rocks lay on the trail. Ferns and freshwater plants lined the route. The leaves from the red oaks in the forest glistened in the sun.

  Everyone seemed impressed by the beauty of the trail. Marlon, however, was not pleased. Thirty minutes into the three-hour hike, he just wanted to go home.

  “Does anyone want to guess how many states the Appalachian Trail runs through?” Mr. Sharma called back from the front of the group.

  The parents turned and looked at Marlon and Nadia. Marlon shrugged his shoulders.

  “Technically, the Appalachian Trail cuts through as many as fourteen states from start to finish,” Nadia piped up.

  “Figures you would know,” Marlon muttered.

  “When I was younger, my dad would take me and the entire family hiking,” Marlon’s dad said loudly. “We loved it so much. It w

as a tradition that I wanted to continue with our family. I can’t believe I waited so long to do it.”

  “That’s very sweet,” said Mrs. Sharma.

  The families continued along the trail. As the adults chatted, they slowly pulled ahead of the kids.

  Nadia studied the ground. “Watch your step, Marlon,” she said. “There are a lot of roots on this part of the path.”

  Marlon didn’t reply. At first Nadia thought he was just being rude. But when she looked up, she found him sitting on a log at the side of the trail, picking fungus off it.

  “C’mon, Marlon, we should catch up with our parents,” Nadia said, walking over. The adults had disappeared around a bend in the trail. “Marlon?”

  “Ugh, I don’t want to be here at all. I hate hiking,” Marlon grumbled.

  “How can you hate something you’ve never tried? Give it a chance. Hiking can be a lot of fun,” said Nadia.

  “Easy for you to say. You like this stuff. I got dragged here—and I’m missing out on hanging with my friends because of it. Just leave me alone,” Marlon snarled.

  Nadia glared at him. “Fine. Stay here then.” She turned and walked away.

  “I will!” Marlon replied. He huffed, glad to be left alone. But a moment later, there was a rustling noise in the brush.

  What was that? Marlon thought. Who’s there?

  Suddenly a squirrel leapt from the brush and bounced off of Marlon’s head. Marlon panicked. He jumped up from the log and raced after Nadia. The squirrel chased after Marlon.

  “Wait for me!” Marlon called. He ran toward—and quickly past—Nadia. There was a fork in the trail up ahead, and he veered left.

  “Hey, slow down!” Nadia hollered. She watched in shock as the squirrel continued its pursuit of Marlon. “You’re going down the wrong trail! Our parents went this way!”

  Marlon didn’t listen. With a sigh, Nadia took off after him. She was so focused on catching up to him that she wasn’t watching where she was going.

  Before she knew it, Nadia tripped on a root. She slid off the narrow trail and tumbled down a large, sloped hill. She tumbled down the steep incline covered in ferns and grass. As she fell, Nadia caught sight of Marlon, lying very still at the bottom of the hill.

  CHAPTER 4

  WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

  At the bottom of the hill, Nadia climbed to her feet. “Are you OK?” she asked Marlon. She walked over and checked him for injuries.

  Marlon winced as she poked and prodded, but luckily, nothing seemed broken. He’d survived with just a few minor scratches.

  “No, I’m not OK,” Marlon snapped. “A wild animal tried to eat me—”

  “Oh, you mean the squirrel that was chasing you down the trail?” Nadia said, rolling her eyes. She brushed the dirt off her clothes and removed her backpack to make sure everything was still intact.

  Marlon glared at her as he stood up. “It’s not my fault. I tripped over a stupid root,” he argued.

  “It kind of is your fault,” Nadia said. “If you’d stayed with the group, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Now our parents have no idea where we are.”

  “So we’ll call for help,” Marlon said. He pulled his smartphone from his pocket. “Come on, connect! Why can’t I get a signal out here?” He held his phone in the air.

  “The ranger told us yesterday that our phones wouldn’t work out here,” said Nadia. “Were you even listening?”

  Marlon didn’t reply. “Mom! Dad! Can anyone hear me?” he yelled.

  “We’re too far off the trail. Our parents can’t hear us,” Nadia said.

  “So let’s climb back up the hill then,” Marlon said.

  Nadia pointed at the hill. “There’s no way we can climb back up. It’s too steep,” she said.

  She was right, Marlon realized. The hill they’d fallen down was steep and covered in slick grass. There was nowhere along the fern-covered incline to get a grip or foothold. It seemed to stretch on like that for miles.

  Suddenly thunder rattled and the clouds began to roll in. Nadia and Marlon looked up. Raindrops started to slowly fall.

  Nadia pulled out her poncho and put it on. Marlon struggled to take off his backpack so he could check the contents. He realized he had no idea what was in there.

  “Where is it? Where’s my rain thingy?” Marlon said.

  “You mean your poncho?” Nadia said.

  “I have to have one! This is the worst day of my life! I have no idea what I’m doing out here.” Marlon continued to panic.

  Nadia tried to calm him. “Freaking out isn’t going to help you find your poncho. Step back, take a deep breath, and I’ll look for it.”

  “OK. OK,” Marlon said. He handed Nadia his backpack and forced himself to take a deep breath.

  What are we going to do? How are we going to find our parents? How are we going to get back to our cabin? he thought. I just want to go home!

  Nadia found Marlon’s poncho and tossed it to him. He quickly put it on.

  “Thanks,” he said. “What do we do now?”

  Nadia looked up at the sky, which was now dark with storm clouds. The rain was starting to come down more steadily.

  “We’re going to have to pitch a tent,” she said. “This storm is going to be around for a while.”

  CHAPTER 5

  AN UNEXPECTED GUEST

  Nadia and Marlon both dug through their packs. They each had a tent, but Marlon’s was larger.

  “Let’s just pitch yours,” Nadia said. “It’s big enough for both of us. There’s no need to put mine up too.”

  Marlon didn’t know enough to argue, so he just nodded in agreement. Nadia prepared the poles as Marlon unrolled the tent. He struggled to insert the metal tubes into the tent and lock them in place, but with Nadia’s help, he started to get the hang of it.

  Wow, she really knows her stuff, Marlon thought as he watched Nadia work quickly and efficiently. I’m lucky she’s here. I’d have no clue what to do on my own.

  After thirty minutes, the tent was ready. Just in time too—the rain had turned into a torrential downpour. The kids crouched down and hurried inside the temporary shelter.

  Nadia took her heat lamp from her backpack. She turned it on and placed it in the center of the tent.

  “This will give us light and keep us warm,” she said.

  “There are some small hooks in the corner. Let’s put our ponchos there,” Marlon suggested.

  “Good idea. We’ll put our backpacks over there so they can dry off too,” said Nadia. “Your parents got you a great tent.”

  “Yeah, I guess they did,” Marlon said, glancing around. It was a blue tent, big enough for at least three people. The curved roof was almost tall enough for Marlon and Nadia to stand up in the middle. “Guess that’s why my backpack was so heavy.”

  Nadia unrolled their sleeping bags. Marlon dug through his backpack and pulled out some trail mix filled with almonds, cashews, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.

  After taking a handful, he handed the bag to Nadia. It was the least he could do after Nadia had helped them get out of the rain.

  The kids snacked silently for awhile. Finally Marlon spoke up.

  “I’m sorry for the way I acted on the trail,” he said. “I didn’t mean to get us into this mess. Or act like such a jerk. I just didn’t want to go on this trip. It’s my fault we’re lost.”

  “We’ll find a way back,” Nadia said as she munched on some trail mix. With her other hand, she pulled a baggie out from her back pocket. “Here, when you’re done with your snacks, put them in this. It’s called a bear bag. It seals the smell of food, so wild animals won’t stop by.”

  “Oh. Thanks.” Marlon placed the bag by his trail mix.

  “This storm is probably going to last through the night. We should rest here until morning,” said Nadia. “Then we’ll look at our maps and try to figure out a way to get back.”

  Suddenly there was a noise outside the tent—a low scratching followed by a growl. Whatever it was sounded different from the rain or thunder.

  “We should zip up the tent opening,” said Nadia, glancing in that direction. Even she looked a little nervous.

  “Yeah, you should do that,” Marlon agreed.

  “Me?” Nadia said. “It’s your tent!”

 

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