A college love spanning over forty years is unexpectedly upended. In Coyote on the Bridge, a memoir, Susan Woodward shares her experience of coping with the sudden death of her husband. Facing grief and unexpected challenges alone, she turns to familiar mountain trails of the Sierra to begin healing. The following winter, an encounter with a coyote on a snowy trail makes her realize that her late husband's spirit could serve as a totem in nature for her. Inspired by the majesty of the coyote on the bridge, and the intense moment they stare each other down, she regains her confidence. With a single step, she begins her journey as a solo hiker searching for resiliency, healing and a new identity in the mountains.