For over fifty years, when he has not been teaching or writing, Howard McCord has been walking the deserts of North America and three other continents. In Walking to Extremes he brings to life three of his desert walks, and one rock climbing ascent. Surprisingly, one of the deserts is in Iceland, and it is the contrast between the Iceland desert and the Jornado del Muerto in New Mexico that immediately resonates with the book's title. But in these four essays McCord is really interested in exploring the metaphysics of walking, the hidden histories of place, the human condition in inhospitable spaces, and the psychology of aloneness. For its spirit of adventure, deep intelligence, well-crafted prose and generous wisdom, Walking to Extremes will be treasured by both the armchair explorer and the serious backpacker.