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Stehekin, Washington, is the home of Stehekin Wilderness Ranch, where tourists come to leave behind the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives and enjoy simple living, clean air, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, and amazing food. In 1997, Croatian Olympic gold medalist Luka Novak arrives to ostensibly serve as the ranch’s new kayak guide and electrician. But ranch HR manager Olivia Vandenberg is suspicious of Luka’s shuttered expression, guarded demeanor, and refusal to talk about his past. Seasonal hires Ingrid Norgaard and Greta Schneider are recent high school graduates with bright futures looking for a new adventure before heading off to college. Their privileged backgrounds make them unlikely candidates for the rustic accommodations and grueling work on the ranch. As the tourism season unfolds, these three newcomers are woven into the fabric of the ranch’s routine and form connections with the members of the permanent staff.
This is a cautionary tale about the dangers of making assumptions and the futility of devoting oneself solely to corporate climbing. It is a story of leaving behind stress and pain to find healing and beauty. As the characters learn more about one another, they also travel paths of self-discovery that lead to new goals and directions. Filled with picturesque imagery, this book artistically captures the majesty of the Pacific Northwest. The author contrasts the magnificence of nature with the cruelty of man, providing a visceral depiction of the atrocities of war and the soul-destroying nature of power-hungry greed. Fink takes the reader on a stirring journey of unimaginable suffering, despair, and loss to demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit, the healing power of love, and the unconquerable strength of hope.