Mitch and Becca are stunned when an injured and strung out young woman, an echo from the past, arrives unexpectedly at their mountain lodge. But Emily is not alone-she belongs to an eclectic fellowship on a quest to backpack from Georgia to Maine. The hiking group includes: a driven, but unfocused, mid-life attorney; a troubled young woman trying to separate herself from unproductive relationships with men and alcohol; a young, poor outdoors-loving duo in it for the adventure, if they can afford it; an obnoxious know-it-all; and a serious, recently-graduated young professional. These six form unexpected relationships with each other and the staff at Thirdway lodge. Mitch Carson is a retired engineer who has run Thirdway for several years. He and his wife Becca have a great reputation and social network among the nearby townspeople, especially with the perceptive sheriff, steady nurse, foreign-born storekeeper, and omniscient boarding house owner. Becca has pursued her own passion and established a newly-thriving community education center. However, Mitch and Becca are struggling to keep their relationship vibrant amidst the growing demands of their second careers-their solution surprises the community. Then the arrival of a certain hiker leads to new perspective on togetherness and family. Thirdway portrays intersecting communities-the inhabitants of a small Virginia town set along the Appalachian Trail and a troupe of hikers on transformational journeys. These groups intertwine in a tale of adventure, family, relationships, redemption, and self-discovery.