Scraping Heaven: A Family's Journey Along the Continental Divide Trail

More than 3,000 miles of trail by foot and mountain bikes with llamas and toddlers . . .What could go wrong?

Scraping Heaven is the story of a family's adventurous trek over the rooftop of North America, a warm and heartfelt account with a powerful message for parents, long-distance hikers, and outdoor adventurers alike.

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, a rugged, 3,100-mile footpath running along the crest of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico, is infamous for its tricky mountain passes and snowy traverses. In 1993, Cindy Ross, her husband, and their two toddlers set out together on the Trail. Using llamas as kid-carriers and packers, they successfully hiked the entire route over the next five summers, covering the last 700 miles on tandem mountain bikes in 1998.