Introduction
In mid-June 2007 I will begin hiking the Appalachian Trail from Maine
to Georgia. This web page contains information and details relevant
to this adventure, and I'd recommend you start by reading the pamphlet
I've put together (right there, beneath this sentence).
Overview Pamphlet
This pamphlet was written as an overview for friends and family, it answers
many common questions.
Read PDF
How to Reach Me On The Trail
Generally speaking I will not rely on mail drops for supplies, so
I will not make a regular habit of checking for mail when I reach a town.
Below are some guidelines I'd ask that you follow if you choose to write
or send care packages along the way - thanks for caring!
- Check my status ( map or
blog ) for any
requests I might have and especially for mail drop locations!
- This page will give you a good perspective
- Letters and postcards always welcome!
- Send only small portions
- If sending food, store in freezer style ziplocs,
feel free to include a few extra bags too. This goes
for homemade as well as store-bought (even things like candy bars
or Pez!)
- Have fun and try to surprise me! Just please
be sensible, I'll either have to carry it or eat it. :)
The Aftermath
No matter how far I get, I'm sure I'll have lots to write about and
plenty of images to provide. Rest assured I will be writing about and
making available my story! Keep checking back!
Books and Reviews
I found all of these books to be at least sufficiently well written and
generally well edited. The reviews I provide are more focused on relevance
and personal likes.
Walking the Appalachian Trail,
Larry Luxenberg, 1995.
This book is a good overview of the trail telling the story through
examples, helping to keep a tight perspective. It is very informative
and factual while at the same time remains interesting. It will give
you a good idea of the AT "culture" and community too.
Long Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail,
Roland Mueser, 1998.
Definitely interesting, and great background for those about to hike the
AT, but I'm not sure the innocent bystander would find this to their
liking. It's written like a PhD thesis with tables, statistics,
and expert analysis and unfortunately is quite dated. The book is based
on data from the 1990's which was a very different era on the AT.
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson, 1999.
This is the book that introduce many people to the AT. It's a comical and
informative book written about the experiences of Bill Bryson as he hiked
the AT. It's well worth the read, just don't be surprised to learn he
doesn't finish the trail! Many are let down by this, but I still recommend
it.
The Appalachian Trail: How to Prepare For & Hike It,
Jan D. Curran, 2002.
Informative and detail oriented, good to read before setting off on the
trail, but not something a casual reader would particularly care for.
Guide to the Appalachian Trail, Jim Chase, 2005
I flipped through this one and will be reading it shortly. I decided
to buy it because it goes into details not found in any of the other
books - specifically geology and American history. I liked what I read
and am anxious to pick it up!