In “A Walk in the Park,” Kevin Fedarko recounts a trek-of-a-lifetime that becomes a nightmare in one of America’s most stunning sites. At least he can laugh about it.

History: Searls Park was once part of a 230-acre farmstead owned by the Searls family who settled in Winnebago County during the 1850's. In 1944, Emily J. Searls donated the land to the Rockford ...