Wilderness Strangers

Wilderness Strangers: Adventures in Shangri-La is a story of two characters with an affinity for outdoor adventures and a yen to explore the far reaches of wilderness in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Two college students working as seasonal rangers connect because a mutual friend said separately to each of them: "You have to meet this guy." Like two magnets drawn together with irresistible force, Kerry Weiss and Joe Blanco become kindred spirits, alter egos and soul mates.

Kerry, of Scandinavian descent, is a country boy from the wilds of Dickinson, North Dakota. Joe, the product of an urban jungle in Portland, Oregon, is Italian-American, forming an improbable team.

They meet while working for the US Forest Service in the North Cascades of Washington State, joining other college-age backcountry buffs and dirtbag climbers collectively known as the Aldo Leopold Society.

Along the way, Kerry and Joe come to understand the essence of brotherhood, love, tragedy, depression, resilience, remorse and hope - from the highest of highs on the peaks of mountaintops to the lowest of lows in the quagmire of depression.

But much like the poles of a magnet, these two unlikely friends are also complete opposites. One is drawn to the yin and the other to the yang in life. Yet, in spite of their differences, their abiding friendship, fascination for outdoor adventure, and obsession with literature and the arts will be their legacy.