- Experienced Hiker: Author Ray Anderson is a devoted hiker who has hiked the Pacific Crest and intimately knows the trail.
- Author Outreach: The author has worked extensively with bookstores to sell in the first book of the Awol series, The Trail. Author has become a very visible participant in the numerous message boards on hiking the great trails of the United States.
- Unique Addition: Sierra follows the same main character found in The Trail, but offers a unique story without rehashing an identical plotline.
