Award-Winning Memoir
TENT FOR SEVEN
A Camping Adventure Gone South Out West
Marty Ohlhaut loved the great outdoors, and he loved his family, but this time, the combination proved disastrous.
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Cooped up inside due to long work hours, Marty was excited about taking off with his wife and five children for the beautiful Canadian Rockies. Aware that this could be their last camping trip together, he wanted to make it extra memorable.
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Little did he know how memorable it would be. From a massive heat wave and tainted water to encounters with aggressive red ants and formidable bears, they experienced one problem after another. Then tragedy struck, forcing Marty to face the terrifying possibility of losing a loved one. With the help of mysterious strangers in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring locations, he fought to keep his family alive and his sanity intact.
Now, three decades later, he joins forces with his daughter Grace Ly to recount the gripping tale of that ill-fated vacation. Written with candor and wit reminiscent of Bill Bryson, Tent for Seven vividly captures both the grandeur and the dangers of the wilderness as Marty learns just how much his wife and children mean to him—and how fragile life can be.
Grace Ly with Marty Ohlhaut
REVIEWS
“A captivating story of a family trip to remember. . . . A factual account that reads like a breathtaking thriller. Marty Ohlhaut and Grace Ly did a great job entertaining readers with a humorous account of an ill-fated family vacation while providing food for thought. . . . The witty writing style shows Marty’s unbeatable spirit in the face of challenges and his boundless love for his family. . . . Highly recommend.”
—Readers’ Favorite (5 Stars)
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“Humorous and horrifying and suspenseful all at once. . . . From tales of bears to washed-out roads to near-deadly accidents, this story entertains on every page.”
—Southern Literary Review
“Presto! Tent for Seven solves the puzzle of what matters most in life using the magic of Mother Nature.”
—David Kwon, magician, illusionist, author, New York Times cruciverbalist, TED speaker
“Clark Griswold, move over for Marty Ohlhaut and Grace Ly. Tent for Seven is full of mishaps, adventures, and surprises that far surpass any Griswold vacation. You won’t be able to put down this wonderfully readable story.”
—Reynold Hoover, lieutenant general (ret.), US Army, and member of the American Alpine Club
“Tent for Seven will make you wonder how a family adventure with so many pitfalls and perils can create positive memories across generations. . . . Through it all, you will find the love of a father for his family, no matter the setting and no matter the situation.”
—Bill Bartee, owner Jesse Brown’s Outdoors, Charlotte, NC
“Grab a box of donuts and your favorite shady spot by a river and prepare to be riveted by the trials and antics of this eclectic cast of characters. I held my breath and laughed out loud throughout each chapter.”
—Ian Bondi, professional adventure photographer
“A heartwarming and entertaining adventure . . . [infused] with humor and wit.”
—The Nerd Cantina