No Man's Land

Unpacking One Woman's Worth on the Colorado Trail

By: Becky Jensen

Narrated by: Becky Jensen

At forty-five, Becky Jensen was raising two sons, engaged to be married, living the dream in Colorado. She was also suicidal and had no idea why. What did she have to be depressed about?

The question haunted Jensen, leading her to take a bold step: to hike the five-hundred-mile Colorado Trail in search of answers. Leaving responsibility behind, Jensen shouldered a backpack loaded with camping gear, her father’s ashes, and the heavy expectations of womanhood—trudging off alone into no man’s land.

In this unflinchingly honest memoir, Jensen confronts dangers lurking in the wilderness, including her own internalized misogyny, repressed memories, and suppressed outrage about her undervalued gender. With each mile, she sheds the weight of female conditioning and begins to carry herself differently, finding the strength and clarity to determine not just if she wants to live, but how.

Raw and relatable, No Man’s Land will resonate with listeners who habitually put their own needs last, crave change in their lives, and seek nature as medicine.

No Man’s Land is equal parts survival story, midlife reckoning, and lush nature writing. Perfect for listeners who seek memoirs written by women about women, and who are eager for more books like Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.

No Man’s Land is a female-forward memoir set in the rugged mountains of Colorado. It tackles themes of:

• triumph over adversity
• resilience and personal growth
• self-worth and mental health
• over-mothering and martyrdom
• ageism and gender role conditioning
• the power of nature to heal, nature therapy
• grief, loss and connection
• women’s health and safety
• female empowerment, finding your voice
• women in the outdoors

©2025 Becky Jensen (P)2025 Becky Jensen

Critic reviews

"A great adventure story … eye-opening. An engaging and uncommon account of self-discovery and pushing one’s limits." — Kirkus Reviews

Serendipity on the Trail

Much like the CT itself, this read is tough but absolutely rewarding. Brilliantly beautiful, I could (and have!) listen to Becky read for hours.

A journey of self discovery in Nature

Even though our journeys thru-hiking the 567-mile Colorado Trail were quite different, the profound impact on our lives was the same. Thank you, Becky, for sharing such a deeply personal story about mental health, female empowerment, and human connection within the glorious—yet powerful and unforgiving—wilderness.

I highly recommend this book to anyone feeling burdened by life. Walk with Becky; it will truly lighten your load.

Raw, Honest, and Unforgettable

I thought I knew Becky Jensen’s story. I didn’t.

Reading this book felt like being invited into a truth Becky didn’t owe anyone, but she chose to tell anyway. I found myself unable to stop listening, pulled in by the vulnerability and honesty of the writer. There were moments that felt deeply familiar and others that completely surprised me. Moments that left me in tears, and moments that gave me hope and had me cheering. Heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.

No Man’s Land is the kind of story that stays with you. It leaves you with something you feel compelled—almost required—to share.

Honesty and bravery

I loved how Becky displayed her life in an honest and open way to the viewers! Her story was descriptive and well written so that the reader could follow along through her Colorado hike!

Journey of hope

Wow! I finished listening to Becky’s story this morning, before the sun rose, and it fills me with hope and admiration. Some passages hit really close to home, too close, really. It made me pause and ponder my own life journey. The trail stories, raw, honest shares of life’s low and wonderfully high points kept me anticipating what each chapter would deliver. The writing is beautiful, the narration felt like a warm hug. I’m going to go read the physical book next to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

I’m not a through hiker, but I’m inspired to hit the Colorado trails, clear my head, and fill my heart.