Just Walking

Just Walking is the first-person account of a 2,171-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail that conveys a sense of what the thru-hiking experience is really like. The daily entries are full of observations of the colors, sounds, and smells of the Appalachian Trail environment, including encounters with wildlife, descriptions of plants and the geology underfoot, the fellowship of hikers, and conversations with folks in the towns along the way. Just Walking also contains commentary on long distance hiking as a zen experience and as an American experience ranging from the Civil War to baseball, Kerouac to Hitchcock and asides on poetry, pop music, and politics. Sidebars and a detailed itinerary and gear list provide practical information for prospective thru-hikers. The final chapter is an essay on the meaning of a thru-hike and how it carries over to life off the trail. Over 200 color photos taken during the hike by the author. Book design by Susanna Anthony.