The Mountain Between Us

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of emotional abuse, animal death, and death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What other survival stories have you read or watched? How does The Mountain Between Us compare to classics like Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe or the film Cast Away in terms of the psychological challenges characters face during isolation?

2. Martin structures this novel as both a survival thriller and a romance. How effectively does he balance these two genres, and which elements felt most compelling to you?

3. Ben and Ashley’s 27-day ordeal in the High Uintas Wilderness tests the limits of human endurance. Which aspects of their survival felt most realistic to you, and what moments pushed the boundaries of believability?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout their ordeal, Ben continues recording messages to Rachel, clinging to hope even in desperate circumstances. What practices or rituals help you maintain hope during your own challenging periods?

2. Ben constantly weighs life-or-death choices for both himself and Ashley, from rationing medication to choosing their travel route. How do you typically approach making decisions when the stakes feel overwhelmingly high?

3. Ashley uses humor to cope with pain and despair, making jokes even when facing life-threatening situations. When have you witnessed humor serve as a survival mechanism in difficult circumstances?

4. The revelation that Rachel died years earlier completely reframes Ben’s emotional journey throughout the wilderness. Have you ever discovered information that fundamentally changed your understanding of someone’s behavior or motivations?

5. Ashley ultimately chooses to call off her wedding to Vince, realizing she was settling rather than following her heart. When have you faced a decision between security and authentic happiness, and what influenced your choice?

6. Ben’s relationship with running transforms from abuse under his father, to joy with Rachel, to desperate escape when seeking help. How has the same activity or hobby taken on different meanings at different points in your life?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Ben and Ashley survive largely because of Ben’s hiking experience and Grover’s hunting equipment, highlighting the value of traditional survival skills. In our technology-dependent society, what practical skills do you think people should maintain for emergency preparedness?

2. The extreme circumstances strip away social conventions and force authentic human connection between Ben and Ashley. What does their experience suggest about the barriers that prevent genuine intimacy in everyday modern life?

3. Ashley was traveling to her wedding alone, while Ben attended a medical conference solo, reflecting contemporary work-life dynamics. How does the novel’s portrayal of career demands separating couples resonate with modern relationship challenges?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Martin alternates between survival scenes in the novel’s present and Ben’s memories of Rachel, creating a dual timeline structure. How did this narrative technique affect your understanding of Ben’s emotional state throughout the wilderness ordeal?

2. Rachel’s compass bears the inscription “My True North” and becomes both a literal survival tool and an emotional anchor for Ben. How does Martin develop this object to explore the different ways people find direction in their lives?

3. What makes Ben’s recorder such an effective focal point for the story’s themes? The device serves simultaneously as communication tool, coping mechanism, and symbol of hope throughout their ordeal.

4. The High Uintas Wilderness functions almost like a character itself, creating obstacles that drive the plot forward. In what ways does Martin personify the natural environment, and how does it serve the story beyond simply providing a backdrop?

5. Ben’s medical training proves crucial, from treating Ashley’s injuries to making rational decisions under extreme pressure. How does his profession shape not just his practical actions but his entire approach to crisis management?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Ben and Ashley end up together, but the novel could have concluded with them parting ways to honor their original commitments. Design an alternative ending where they choose different paths after their rescue. How would their wilderness experience still transform their individual lives moving forward?

2. Ashley only gets to tell her side of the story through brief conversations and one recorded message to Rachel. Rewrite the scene where Ben kills the mountain lion from Ashley’s perspective. What are her internal thoughts as she shoots the flare gun despite her severe injuries?

3. You’re designing a wilderness survival kit specifically for the High Uintas region after reading about Ben and Ashley’s challenges. Based on their specific struggles with altitude, cold, injuries, and isolation, what ten items would you include and why would each be essential for survival?

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