I need a Walk: To Clear My Mind follows author Claire Lewinski’s brave coming-of age trek through the South Island of New Zealand as she battles both internal and external traumas. A tumultuous family life and three traumatic brin injuries within four months threw Claire into a depressed spiral with seemingly no way out. her life rapidly tumbled around her, causing Claire to drop out of school steps away from graduation, pause her employment, and seek extensive physical and cognitive therapy in order to discover a new “normal.”

Claire’s main solution for recovery transformed into a months-long backpacking trip, a way to creat space between her healing brain and the harsh noise of her life in the United States. All she took with her was the pack on her back as she walked into an unpredictable world.

Through grit and sheer will, author Claire Lewinski exemplifies what it means to embrace the climb. Little did she know she would find a home in the mountains.