Two Sticks, One Path by Darrow Kirkpatrick (Book Review #2205)

In Two Sticks, One Path, Darrow Kirkpatrick recounts an extraordinary feat: hiking the 500-mile Colorado Trail on forearm crutches. But this is far more than an account of endurance—it’s a courageous, deeply human memoir about injury, healing, nature, and the spiritual transformation that unfolds along the way.

Set against the rugged majesty of the Rocky Mountains, the narrative traces Kirkpatrick’s life from his early infatuation with wilderness at Philmont Scout Ranch to a high-pressure engineering career that ultimately collapses under the weight of mental illness. Through these deeply personal reflections, we see how family support, Buddhist practice, and determined self-work helped him rebuild not just his physical body, but also his spirit.

The memoir is notable for its raw honesty and intricate layering. Kirkpatrick weaves outdoor adventure with threads of chronic pain, anxiety, and a decades-long desire to return to the backcountry. Injuries repeatedly delay his journey, and pain becomes both obstacle and teacher. Instead of abandoning his dream, he adapts—eventually training to hike the entire trail on crutches.

Each challenge on the trail becomes a metaphor for life’s broader struggles: a near-fall into a roaring creek, a desperate 19-mile night hike to safety, and a night spent alone above 12,000 feet during a windstorm all highlight the razor’s edge between courage and calamity. Yet Kirkpatrick never paints himself as a hero. He is humble, self-aware, and often vulnerable, which makes his success all the more inspiring.

What also elevates the book is its environmental consciousness. The Rockies are not just backdrop—they are characters, bruised by climate change and development but still breathing life and awe into each chapter. His reflections on nature’s fragility add a poignant undercurrent, reminding readers that our personal healing is tied to the healing of the earth itself.

Kirkpatrick’s writing is graceful and deliberate, with a clear eye for emotional and environmental detail. This is a story of resilience, but it’s also about surrender—letting go of perfectionism, accepting help, and finding beauty in limitation.

Two Sticks, One Path is an inspiring read for adventurers, spiritual seekers, and anyone facing physical or emotional hurdles. It is a moving meditation on the power of nature, persistence, and self-compassion.

Written by Jeyran Main

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