Writers’ Wednesday – Walk of Ages: A Generational Journey from Mt. Whitney to Death Valley

Writers’ Wednesday

August 14, 2024
5:00 – 5:30 pm – Book signing and wine/cheese Reception
5:30 – 6:30 pm – Lecture

Walk of Ages: A Generational Journey from Mt. Whitney to Death Valley

Walk of Ages Book

This month’s book signing author is Withanee Andersen and she will talk about her book Walk of Ages: A Generational Journey from Mt. Whitney to Death Valley.

Following in her father’s footsteps, Withanee Andersen begins the expedition of a lifetime when she and her comrades embark on a trek from Mt. Whitney to Death Valley, tracing the rugged path her father, Jim Andersen, traversed forty-three years earlier.

With hopes of being listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, Jim led the first documented walk from the highest to lowest point in the contiguous United States­ in 1974. He lived, albeit just barely, to tell the tale to his daughter, sparking a desire in Withanee to retrace his steps in his honor. In 2017, she took on the incredible task of recreating Jim’s legacy trek of 131 miles with the help of divine intervention, ice-cold beer, and her parents, who were following along as the support party.

Walk of Ages humorously relates the parallel journey of an epic adventure told from two perspectives—a daughter’s difficult quest, and a father who supports her through it while recalling his own experiences from four decades earlier. Throughout this momentous odyssey, readers will realize how a once-in-a-generation adventure leads to life-changing transformation, and that the bond between father and daughter knows no bound

Withanee Andersen

Withanee Andersen earned her bachelor’s degree from the Reynold’s School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her first published article was included in Sagebrushed: Coming of Age and Working in Nevada. She was a wildland firefighter for many years and is now the communications coordinator for the City of Sparks in Nevada.

Jim Andersen (1944–2022) was a freelance writer whose career began in 1980 with Nevada Magazine. He also wrote for the Battle Mountain Bugle and the Reese River Reveille. In 2005, he received first place from the Nevada Press Association for the Best Local Non-Staff Column. He is the author of Lost in Austin: A Nevada Memoir and Sometimes a Great notions, Isn’t, so much. This book is his final work.

The Writers’ Wednesday Lecture Series, held the second Wednesday of each month, features a different author who takes part in a book signing, a presentation and question-and-answer session with the audience. A wine and cheese reception precedes the lecture.

The intent of the program is to highlight writers who specifically focus on Nevada, the Great Basin, or the West in general. The authors talk about the content of their books but also share details about the creative process.

Make sure to arrive early as we have limited seating available in our Event Space. Don’t forget, we provide free, temporary parking permits to make it easier to visit NHS!