Movie – PG13 – Cheryl Strayed’s a likable character, to be sure, and Reese Witherspoon characterizes her well. Her journey is funny, emotional, and altogether enjoyable. Any backpackers will relate with her struggles with her “monster” backpack, her camp stove, her boots. Her side journeys to towns and stranger’s homes gives us scenery changes that show Cheryl’s true colors. 1000 miles of hiking, from arid desert and diminished water supplies to a still deep snow pack in the Sierra Mountains; Cheryl treks on, meeting interesting and some dangerous people along the way. But most importantly, finding her peace of mind after a stretch of truly living on the edge following her mother’s death, and her own divorce. Heartening.