Trim line: Essays and stories is a collection of nonfiction and fiction about and inspired by thru hikes of three trails—the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail—known mutually as the Triple Crown, as well as the Centennial Trail and Haute Route. This collection explores the soft, porous, and often fallacious border between humans and nature in ecosystems as disparate as Waterton Lakes National Park, Germany, Antarctica, Upstate New York, Northeast Ohio, and Detroit. A mix of literary journalism, braided and experimental essays, short stories, and a speculative novel excerpt, Trim Line delves into subjects such as family lineage, religion, ecology, polar exploration, the transcontinental railroad, and chess. Despite their differences, the writings in this collection all examine what it means to be alive in this world and interact with its many varied environments.