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Loading... Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trailby Bill Walker
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. An honest account of an Appalachian Trail thru-hike by novice hiker Bill Walker. I found his account of his adventure to be a good mix of information, humor, and self-reflection. ( ) In 2005 gregarious, elongated (6 foot 11 inches) Bill Walker attempts to thru-hike the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, backpacking all necessary gear for a 6-month journey. His encounters along the way with a host of idiosyncratic individuals, including a black bear, make an energizing, entertaining modern odyssey. no reviews | add a review
Why would a middle-aged businessman, who had never even spent a single night outdoors, attempt to hike the entire 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail? Bill Walker, a former commodities trader in Chicago and London, and an avid 'streetwalker', had developed a virtual obsession to thru-hike the AT, which runs for fourteen states from Georgia to Maine.In the early spring of 2005 he set off, determined to hike this Georgia-to-northern Maine wilderness trail before the arrival of winter. Immediately, he realized he had plunged into a whole new world. The AT has some ferociously difficult terrain, winding through dramatically diverse geography, and covers the very highest peaks in the East. Walker's near 7-foot height earned him the trail name, Skywalker, and drew raves from fellow hikers. But that same height made him more vulnerable to weight loss, cold weather, and crushing fatigue. An elemental fear of bears, snakes, and getting lost also loomed large. The journey often seemed like a see-saw battle between his determination vs. his blunders.No other country has a footpath even remotely as popular as the Appalachian Trail. Up to 4,000,000 people hike on the AT during any given year. Mortals are compelled--or perhaps cursed--to relive their lifetime adventure. This is Bill Walker's (Skywalker's) unforgettable version, leavened with ruthlessly self-deprecating humor. His fondest hope is to inspire other rookies and novices, to give the Appalachian Trail a try as well. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)917.404History and Geography Geography and Travel Geography of and travel in North America Northeastern U.S. TravelLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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