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Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT)is the perfect place for an average person to do something extraordinary. Bill Walker ("Skywalker"), who stands 6'11", might seem like anything but average. Yet in a brutally honest tone, he lays to bare all his considerable weaknesses and fears. Among these are crushing weight loss and fatigue, along with a fear of getting lost or a bear stealing his food. Nonetheless, he is bound and determined to hike the PCT, which at 2,663 miles, runs all the way from Mexico to Canada.
The PCT's calling card is its stunning beauty. It has a diversity of geography unequaled by any footpath in the world. Haunting and beckoning the PCT hiker are the implacable desert, the towering majesty of the so-called High Sierra, and the ruggedly bleak, northern Cascade range. Indeed, the PCT hiker faces much greater extremes of terrain and climate than on the famed Appalachian Trail. Completing this demanding challenge calls for overwhelming clarity of purpose.
Walker's signature characteristic as a writer is his real talent in capturing people ("Skywalker's humor, his delight in human foibles appeal to a broad audience."--Jeff Minnick, Smoky Mountain Book News). Obviously, he is a people person because he runs into and vividly describes a truly colorful cast of characters from seemingly all walks of American life. Among these are Uber Bitch, Shit Bag, and Serial Killer; the reader learns how these hikers ended up with their names (hint: blunders).
The reader need not worry that Walker is a bully. Throughout this irreverent narrative, he turns his considerable supply of humor back on himself in ruthlessly self-deprecating fashion. It all makes for a delightful read.
The PCT's calling card is its stunning beauty. It has a diversity of geography unequaled by any footpath in the world. Haunting and beckoning the PCT hiker are the implacable desert, the towering majesty of the so-called High Sierra, and the ruggedly bleak, northern Cascade range. Indeed, the PCT hiker faces much greater extremes of terrain and climate than on the famed Appalachian Trail. Completing this demanding challenge calls for overwhelming clarity of purpose.
Walker's signature characteristic as a writer is his real talent in capturing people ("Skywalker's humor, his delight in human foibles appeal to a broad audience."--Jeff Minnick, Smoky Mountain Book News). Obviously, he is a people person because he runs into and vividly describes a truly colorful cast of characters from seemingly all walks of American life. Among these are Uber Bitch, Shit Bag, and Serial Killer; the reader learns how these hikers ended up with their names (hint: blunders).
The reader need not worry that Walker is a bully. Throughout this irreverent narrative, he turns his considerable supply of humor back on himself in ruthlessly self-deprecating fashion. It all makes for a delightful read.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2010
57 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
Bill Walker
28 books15 followersBill Walker was raised in Macon, Georgia and attended the University of Georgia, where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Accounting. He traded U.S. Treasury Bonds at the Chicago Board of Trade for 10 years. He then moved to London where he traded German Bonds for Nomura International at the London International Futures Exchange for four years.
Upon leaving the trading business, Bill took a radical turn. He served for a year as a volunteer in a welfare reform program in South Texas. He then taught English as a second language in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru.
He came to hiking late in life, but has tried to make up for it. In 2005 he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. In 2006, he hiked the Long Trail. In 2009, he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. In 2010, he hiked the spiritual pilgrimage (European Divorcee Trail!), El Camino de Santiago, which crosses the northern arc of Spain.
He has written the outdoor narratives, Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail (2008), and Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail (2010). Bill is currently working on two books–one about height (he is 6’11”) and the other about his pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Upon leaving the trading business, Bill took a radical turn. He served for a year as a volunteer in a welfare reform program in South Texas. He then taught English as a second language in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru.
He came to hiking late in life, but has tried to make up for it. In 2005 he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. In 2006, he hiked the Long Trail. In 2009, he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. In 2010, he hiked the spiritual pilgrimage (European Divorcee Trail!), El Camino de Santiago, which crosses the northern arc of Spain.
He has written the outdoor narratives, Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail (2008), and Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail (2010). Bill is currently working on two books–one about height (he is 6’11”) and the other about his pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
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February 3, 2017
The aptly-named Bill Walker stood atop a mountain pass in the Northern Cascades of Washington, gazing out at Mt. Rainer. The scene was spectacular -- one of the best he'd seen on his trek of the Pacific Crest Trail. But when he later wrote about it, he put the vista into context. "Singular views are overrated. The more profound experience is to walk through nature and subconsciously embrace its holistic majesty."
This could be the attitude of someone numbed by the daily beauty of being 2000 miles into a six-month hike from the Mexican to Canadian border. Or, it could be the whole point.
This book, like most I've been reading lately, is about a journey. Some of them are metaphorically spiritual. Others are specific adventures out in the world. All of them have had in common some aspect of mid-life discovery, not too dissimilar to what I've been experiencing as I approach what is likely the halfway point of my own life. And what I've has struck me is lack of epiphany or big flashes of inspiration; no palm slap to the forehead that suddenly changes everything. Rather, it's about the sum total, an aggregate of tiny decisions, taking step after step and only realizing much later that you've ended up somewhere entirely new.
Walker set out to hike the PCT two years after successfully completing the East Coast's Appalachian Trail. I was surprised to learn that the first night he ever spent sleeping outdoors was the day he started that earlier hike. He was in his mid-40s at the time, and had been a commodities trader in London. So, yeah, that mid-life thing.
The trail itself - and his particular walk along it - is clearly segmented to the geography of the Western United States. He stared like most "through-hikers" do at the southern end and marched off into the Mojave desert. Seven hundred miles later, Walker started climbing into the High Sierra. Yosemite marks a psychological half-way point and a transition to the even more rugged terrain and raging forrest fires of Norther California. At the Oregon boarder, Crater Lake leads him to the gentler Cascades. But at the Columbia River, he's forced to make a dash through the dormant volcanoes of Washington to get to the norther terminus before the early winter weather sets in.
I didn't realize that each year, most everyone attempting the full course walks more or less together. It makes sense: there's a tight seasonal window that enables this remarkable trek. Hikers need to leave early enough in the spring to avoid the desert's punishing temperatures, but not so early that they arrive in the Sierra before the snowmelt. Likewise, they need to make significant progress up the trail to hope to finish before October, when the first snowstorms in Washington make getting to the Canadian border impossible.
As a result, a community forms along the trail with the expected drama. Couples hook up and break up. People help each other in difficult circumstances. Factions form and compete. And everyone travels with a nickname; the book's narrator goes by "Skywalker," a obvious play on his last name.
The story arc reveals Walker's blend of wonder and anxiety. He is constantly amazed at the beauty around him, but also desperately pushing to rack up the miles. The clock is ticking towards winter, and by the time he's reached Northern California he has conditioned himself to hike 25 rugged trail miles a day before collapsing in his tent after dark. To me, this is as much a part of the "holistic majesty" as the natural scenery. My own experience with long distance cycling helps me to relate. Deep physical exertion amplifies the sublime.
My only real criticism with this book is the shifting perspective in Walker's descriptions of the men and women he encounters along the way. Specifically, he seems to jump to romantic speculation each time he encounters a female on his journey. He's always quick to point out his platonic intentions, and there very well may be an undercurrent of tension along the trail. But I found it distracting -- and honestly a little embarrassing -- each time he described a women he met.
Ultimately a quick and enjoyable book, good not just for a dose of vicarious travel but for a first-hand introduction to the Pacific Crest Trail's epic challenge, rugged geography, and peculiar culture.
This could be the attitude of someone numbed by the daily beauty of being 2000 miles into a six-month hike from the Mexican to Canadian border. Or, it could be the whole point.
This book, like most I've been reading lately, is about a journey. Some of them are metaphorically spiritual. Others are specific adventures out in the world. All of them have had in common some aspect of mid-life discovery, not too dissimilar to what I've been experiencing as I approach what is likely the halfway point of my own life. And what I've has struck me is lack of epiphany or big flashes of inspiration; no palm slap to the forehead that suddenly changes everything. Rather, it's about the sum total, an aggregate of tiny decisions, taking step after step and only realizing much later that you've ended up somewhere entirely new.
Walker set out to hike the PCT two years after successfully completing the East Coast's Appalachian Trail. I was surprised to learn that the first night he ever spent sleeping outdoors was the day he started that earlier hike. He was in his mid-40s at the time, and had been a commodities trader in London. So, yeah, that mid-life thing.
The trail itself - and his particular walk along it - is clearly segmented to the geography of the Western United States. He stared like most "through-hikers" do at the southern end and marched off into the Mojave desert. Seven hundred miles later, Walker started climbing into the High Sierra. Yosemite marks a psychological half-way point and a transition to the even more rugged terrain and raging forrest fires of Norther California. At the Oregon boarder, Crater Lake leads him to the gentler Cascades. But at the Columbia River, he's forced to make a dash through the dormant volcanoes of Washington to get to the norther terminus before the early winter weather sets in.
I didn't realize that each year, most everyone attempting the full course walks more or less together. It makes sense: there's a tight seasonal window that enables this remarkable trek. Hikers need to leave early enough in the spring to avoid the desert's punishing temperatures, but not so early that they arrive in the Sierra before the snowmelt. Likewise, they need to make significant progress up the trail to hope to finish before October, when the first snowstorms in Washington make getting to the Canadian border impossible.
As a result, a community forms along the trail with the expected drama. Couples hook up and break up. People help each other in difficult circumstances. Factions form and compete. And everyone travels with a nickname; the book's narrator goes by "Skywalker," a obvious play on his last name.
The story arc reveals Walker's blend of wonder and anxiety. He is constantly amazed at the beauty around him, but also desperately pushing to rack up the miles. The clock is ticking towards winter, and by the time he's reached Northern California he has conditioned himself to hike 25 rugged trail miles a day before collapsing in his tent after dark. To me, this is as much a part of the "holistic majesty" as the natural scenery. My own experience with long distance cycling helps me to relate. Deep physical exertion amplifies the sublime.
My only real criticism with this book is the shifting perspective in Walker's descriptions of the men and women he encounters along the way. Specifically, he seems to jump to romantic speculation each time he encounters a female on his journey. He's always quick to point out his platonic intentions, and there very well may be an undercurrent of tension along the trail. But I found it distracting -- and honestly a little embarrassing -- each time he described a women he met.
Ultimately a quick and enjoyable book, good not just for a dose of vicarious travel but for a first-hand introduction to the Pacific Crest Trail's epic challenge, rugged geography, and peculiar culture.
September 30, 2011
I went into reading this book with no knowledge of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Let me re-phrase that -- I knew nothing about thru-hiking the PCT. I knew about the trail itself as I've been reading a lot on the Appalachian Trail, so the PCT, naturally, was also intriguing.
Also considering that I had already read Bill Walker's tale of his AT hike, this book was of interest to me.
Walker, a nearly 7-foot-tall hiker, has a unique and witty way of writing, so I was really interested to see his take on this trail on the West Coast of the country in his book -- Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail.
For those who don't know about the PCT, it's a trail that runs from the border of Mexico to Canada, going through California and other Western states. It's actually longer than the Appalachian Trail.
If any of you read Walker's AT book, this is worth a read, too. His style is the same and the stories keep you smiling throughout.
On a side note, Walker will also be one of a handful of people I have spoken with for a series of stories I'll be doing on long-distance hiking (more specifically the Appalachian Trail) here on the blog in a few weeks. Stay tuned for that.
Back to the book, Walker takes you through the trials and tribulations of the PCT. It's definitely not the AT, as he shows, and it's definitely not easy.
Now for my thoughts…
THE GOOD
Walker's style is a fun way to read. He's witty, funny and entertaining. He captures your attention and really keeps you interested in the subject matter.
As with his first book, this one was a page-turner. I got through the book quickly, though not as quickly as his AT book. Walker does his best to paint a wonderful portrait of this trail and the people he meets. He also does a very good job in showing major differences between the two trails, which is especially beneficial for people who enjoy knowing about long-distance hiking. For example, there are no shelters on the PCT, as opposed to the many that dot the AT.
Further, he does a good job at making fun of himself. Though he does a good job at pointing out the misgivings of others on the trail (which is especially good because it shows the different personalities one meets on the trail), he's not afraid to bash himself and show his fears or mess ups. It's a good way to realize that Walker is essentially a normal Joe, just like you and I. What that really does is shows that doing something like this can be someone who works the 9-5 job and all that. Someone doesn't have to be super human to hike 2,000-plus miles.
I also like that Walker holds no punches. He tells it like he sees it. Whether it's a mistake that he made or someone he met on the trail being a total jerk, he gives the full feel of the trail and what one might encounter.
I'll also note to those of you who read on the Kindle, the book is extremely well-priced for it.
THE BAD
This book was a little more jumpy than his tales of the AT. There were times when I was left scratching my head in wonder about certain people. He meets a lot of people on the trail, so keeping them together was a little tough when he jumped around. In his AT book, things seemed to flow a little better and I, as a reader, felt more connected to the personalities that he presented.
I also read this in the Kindle version. So, as with many books I've found on Kindle, there are the occasional errors, which range from spelling to style. But that's bound to happen. Though it's a little frustrating to someone who watches for things like that (such as me), it's not a deal-breaker in regard to reading the book. I write this, however, to warn people of this as it might bother others. There were some misused words and some odd words used in situations. Though a couple times it made me let out a deep sigh, I still enjoyed the book.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
As with Walker's Appalachian Trail book, he takes us through a memorable trip. From his personal safety and thoughts to the antics and craziness of people he meets on the trail, Walker does an excellent job at painting this wonderful trail that goes walks the one side of the country.
He's funny. He's serious. He has a colorful way of telling a story.
There's good stories and bad. There's interesting people and duds.
Basically, it has everything one needs to be a strong tale of something crazy and amazing. There are a lot of hiking books out there, but this one and Walker's AT book are two that I would highly encourage people to read.
If you have an interest in the outdoors or hiking, this is a book that will allow you to armchair a long-distance hike through someone's eyes. And that someone doesn't worry about ruffling feathers. He tells it like he sees it unfolds and that's a refreshing way to see this trail.
I think it's a solid read and well worth the time spent reading it. However, it wasn't as good as his first book on the AT. I thought his AT book was more crisp and flowed better. I was also laughing at that book a bit more and more intrigued by where he went. It could be the subject matter, too, as the AT seriously does seem more interesting than the PT. I look forward to more from Walker in the future.
Let me re-phrase that -- I knew nothing about thru-hiking the PCT. I knew about the trail itself as I've been reading a lot on the Appalachian Trail, so the PCT, naturally, was also intriguing.
Also considering that I had already read Bill Walker's tale of his AT hike, this book was of interest to me.
Walker, a nearly 7-foot-tall hiker, has a unique and witty way of writing, so I was really interested to see his take on this trail on the West Coast of the country in his book -- Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail.
For those who don't know about the PCT, it's a trail that runs from the border of Mexico to Canada, going through California and other Western states. It's actually longer than the Appalachian Trail.
If any of you read Walker's AT book, this is worth a read, too. His style is the same and the stories keep you smiling throughout.
On a side note, Walker will also be one of a handful of people I have spoken with for a series of stories I'll be doing on long-distance hiking (more specifically the Appalachian Trail) here on the blog in a few weeks. Stay tuned for that.
Back to the book, Walker takes you through the trials and tribulations of the PCT. It's definitely not the AT, as he shows, and it's definitely not easy.
Now for my thoughts…
THE GOOD
Walker's style is a fun way to read. He's witty, funny and entertaining. He captures your attention and really keeps you interested in the subject matter.
As with his first book, this one was a page-turner. I got through the book quickly, though not as quickly as his AT book. Walker does his best to paint a wonderful portrait of this trail and the people he meets. He also does a very good job in showing major differences between the two trails, which is especially beneficial for people who enjoy knowing about long-distance hiking. For example, there are no shelters on the PCT, as opposed to the many that dot the AT.
Further, he does a good job at making fun of himself. Though he does a good job at pointing out the misgivings of others on the trail (which is especially good because it shows the different personalities one meets on the trail), he's not afraid to bash himself and show his fears or mess ups. It's a good way to realize that Walker is essentially a normal Joe, just like you and I. What that really does is shows that doing something like this can be someone who works the 9-5 job and all that. Someone doesn't have to be super human to hike 2,000-plus miles.
I also like that Walker holds no punches. He tells it like he sees it. Whether it's a mistake that he made or someone he met on the trail being a total jerk, he gives the full feel of the trail and what one might encounter.
I'll also note to those of you who read on the Kindle, the book is extremely well-priced for it.
THE BAD
This book was a little more jumpy than his tales of the AT. There were times when I was left scratching my head in wonder about certain people. He meets a lot of people on the trail, so keeping them together was a little tough when he jumped around. In his AT book, things seemed to flow a little better and I, as a reader, felt more connected to the personalities that he presented.
I also read this in the Kindle version. So, as with many books I've found on Kindle, there are the occasional errors, which range from spelling to style. But that's bound to happen. Though it's a little frustrating to someone who watches for things like that (such as me), it's not a deal-breaker in regard to reading the book. I write this, however, to warn people of this as it might bother others. There were some misused words and some odd words used in situations. Though a couple times it made me let out a deep sigh, I still enjoyed the book.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
As with Walker's Appalachian Trail book, he takes us through a memorable trip. From his personal safety and thoughts to the antics and craziness of people he meets on the trail, Walker does an excellent job at painting this wonderful trail that goes walks the one side of the country.
He's funny. He's serious. He has a colorful way of telling a story.
There's good stories and bad. There's interesting people and duds.
Basically, it has everything one needs to be a strong tale of something crazy and amazing. There are a lot of hiking books out there, but this one and Walker's AT book are two that I would highly encourage people to read.
If you have an interest in the outdoors or hiking, this is a book that will allow you to armchair a long-distance hike through someone's eyes. And that someone doesn't worry about ruffling feathers. He tells it like he sees it unfolds and that's a refreshing way to see this trail.
I think it's a solid read and well worth the time spent reading it. However, it wasn't as good as his first book on the AT. I thought his AT book was more crisp and flowed better. I was also laughing at that book a bit more and more intrigued by where he went. It could be the subject matter, too, as the AT seriously does seem more interesting than the PT. I look forward to more from Walker in the future.
July 17, 2013
After a trip to the Goat Rocks Wilderness last year, I became intrigued by the Pacific Crest Trail, which passes through Goat Rocks on its meandering 2600+ mile course from Mexico to Canada. I read the NYT bestseller "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed but found that the trail was simply a backdrop for her catharsis. I wanted to get a better sense for what it would be like to hike the trail assuming a reasonable amount of planning and experience and Walker's book delivers.
Unlike Strayed, who only hiked the Californian section of the trail, Walker does nearly the whole thing so you learn about the very different challenges presented by the rugged North Cascades compared to the arid desert climate of Southern California and about the very real need to wrap up before winter descends upon northern Washington. Walker also weaves in brief histories of the trail, the areas that it passes through, and the exploration of the west that help put his trek in context.
I came away from this book both more tempted by the PCT and more afraid of it, which seems about right.
Unlike Strayed, who only hiked the Californian section of the trail, Walker does nearly the whole thing so you learn about the very different challenges presented by the rugged North Cascades compared to the arid desert climate of Southern California and about the very real need to wrap up before winter descends upon northern Washington. Walker also weaves in brief histories of the trail, the areas that it passes through, and the exploration of the west that help put his trek in context.
I came away from this book both more tempted by the PCT and more afraid of it, which seems about right.
February 25, 2011
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT)is the perfect place for an average person to do something extraordinary. Bill Walker ("Skywalker"), who stands 6'11", might seem like anything but average. Yet in a brutally honest tone, he lays to bare all his considerable weaknesses and fears. Among these are crushing weight loss and fatigue, along with a fear of getting lost or a bear stealing his food. Nonetheless, he is bound and determined to hike the PCT, which at 2,663 miles, runs all the way from Mexico to Canada. The PCT's calling card is its stunning beauty. It has a diversity of geography unequaled by any footpath in the world. Haunting and beckoning the PCT hiker are the implacable desert, the towering majesty of the so-called High Sierra, and the ruggedly bleak, northern Cascade range. Indeed, the PCT hiker faces much greater extremes of terrain and climate than on the famed Appalachian Trail. Completing this demanding challenge calls for overwhelming clarity of purpose. Walker's signature characteristic as a writer is his real talent in capturing people ("Skywalker's humor, his delight in human foibles appeal to a broad audience."--Jeff Minnick, Smoky Mountain Book News). Obviously, he is a people person because he runs into and vividly describes a truly colorful cast of characters from seemingly all walks of American life. Among these are Uber Bitch, Shit Bag, and Serial Killer; the reader learns how these hikers ended up with their names (hint: blunders). The reader need not worry that Walker is a bully. Throughout this irreverent narrative, he turns his considerable supply of humor back on himself in ruthlessly self-deprecating fashion. It all makes for a delightful read.
March 6, 2021
My actual rating is 3.5. It was a little choppy but I did enjoy the history of the trail and the areas. However, there are no wolves in Yosemite.
May 22, 2018
An excellent read. Really enjoyable. Full of wonderful encounters with other hikers and with excellent description of the history of and the sights seen on the PCT.
Other reviewers have noted that Bill Walker self-published this book and that it would have been better if he had had an editor. That is a fair point, and it is true- there were times when an editor would have been a very handy person to have.
Others have noted-- with some distaste-- Bill's comments on several female hikers. There was only one, brief, time when I was mildly put off the comments made. However, upon reflection, these comments fit in with Bills overall attitude of being totally and completely honest with the reader. Five stars.
Other reviewers have noted that Bill Walker self-published this book and that it would have been better if he had had an editor. That is a fair point, and it is true- there were times when an editor would have been a very handy person to have.
Others have noted-- with some distaste-- Bill's comments on several female hikers. There was only one, brief, time when I was mildly put off the comments made. However, upon reflection, these comments fit in with Bills overall attitude of being totally and completely honest with the reader. Five stars.
May 14, 2013
When I read a hiking journal style book, I want it to be light with stories about the trail and stories of the trail. This book does have both types of stories and remains light throughout it. Walker does not talk as much about the trail as he does of it, and that keeps the narrative moving along. You realize quickly that he's got a dark side to him as well. He talks of women often in misogynistic ways. He'll discuss what they look like rather than who they are. Some are stocky while others are the finest examples of the female form Walker's ever seen. This takes away from the narrative significantly. It directs you in a way that you don't really want to go - off trail, perhaps? Also, Walker is extremely critical of other non-purists hikers. He himself skips a portion of the trail, making him be what he despises. Perhaps this troubles him, but he doesn't show it. Staying a purist on the PCT is an extremely challenging position to find oneself, and I figure it bothered Walker significantly.
I rate this a three because it's got a good description of the trail's ups and downs (pun?) but because of his many editorial mistakes as well as his thoughts on women, it has to be lower.
I rate this a three because it's got a good description of the trail's ups and downs (pun?) but because of his many editorial mistakes as well as his thoughts on women, it has to be lower.
July 4, 2012
This is the second account I've read of someone who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, and I really enjoyed it. I was actually amazed that he could turn something that might seem boring -- hiking for 2,000+ miles -- into a compelling read, but he pulled it off. I'm tempted to take points off for annoying editing problems -- most notably the seemingly random and abusive use of italics -- but I can forgive those flaws because this was such a clear, interesting account of his time on the trail and the other hikers he met. The storytelling won me over. I appreciated the mix of trail anecdotes, snippets of history, and self-reflection (I particularly appreciated that he kept the history and self-reflection interludes to a minimum... enough for context but not enough to take away from the forward movement of the hike). This book made me homesick for the Cascades, but it was also nice to get a little "fix" by reading it.
October 20, 2014
This is only the second book I've read about hiking the PCT. I enjoyed much of this book although I got tired of his depictions of women as many others have already noted. However he wrote a travel narrative, not a treatise on men's attitudes toward women. I also got confused occasionally with all the people on the trail and how he would mention someone many chapters after they were first introduced. Just couldn't remember much about them. But I definitely felt the struggles he had with the cold and the weight loss. Pretty sure I would never attempt a thru hike of this trail although I would love to try the AT.
January 1, 2017
Bill Walker's account of thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,663 mile trail from the California-Mexico border to the Washington-Canada border, traversing California, Oregon, and Washington. I have enjoyed his other books about his hiking adventures, and this one was no different. He brings to life the locations he visits, the people he meets, and the worries and joys he experiences along the way. He seems to be more of a people person than I am...there were times when he seems a little sad that he is hiking or camping alone, where I would thoroughly enjoy those solitary times. Nonetheless, while I may never thru-hike the PCT, it is enjoyable catching a glimpse of it through his eyes.
December 11, 2014
A marked improvement over his last book about the Appalachian Trail. In this one, he takes more side trails to tell the reader about the history of the West Coast parks along the Pacific Crest Trail, elevating the book above a simple travelogue.
April 17, 2013
I enjoy reading about these long-distance hikes cuz between the mosquitos and the foot problems, I doubt I will ever be on them myself.
August 22, 2023
The Pacific Crest Trail is a fascinating topic; however, Walker could have used a good editor to organize and clean things up, as well as jettison the off-putting "humor." The book does a reasonable job of conveying the excitement and camaraderie of the PCT. That said, it was written in 2010 and hasn't aged well. Every woman the author meets is judged on their physical attributes and subject to speculations regarding their sex lives. Race and ethnicity is often brought up for no apparent reason. For example:
...but the tent poles weren't there.
I rushed back to the front desk and said, "The maid must have thrown them away. Can I look in the dumpster?" They assigned a Mexican maid to take me out to the dumpster, where I frantically rummaged around without luck... "Who cleaned the room?" I peppered the people at the front desk.
Turns out the poles were in Walker's backpack after all. Oof.
Before Skywalker, I read Jim "Gravity" Smith's excellent daily blog of his time on the same trail. It is a thoughtful, spiritual and measured rumination. In contrast, this author feels like a bit of a bombastic and unreliable narrator. For example, the author is 48 and 49 during the odyssey, but it's never clear why he's on the PCT other than he walked the Appalachian Trail about two years earlier and the PCT seems like fertile ground for proving his grit while ogling young women. Even as Walker traverses an ice field alone I found myself juxtaposing the tense moment with an image of him, a man nearly seven feet tall, berating and threatening hotel staff over ten poles. Walker's adventure might have suffered if he didn't locate his gear but in that moment, most likely it was the workers who felt their very livelihoods were on the line.
...but the tent poles weren't there.
I rushed back to the front desk and said, "The maid must have thrown them away. Can I look in the dumpster?" They assigned a Mexican maid to take me out to the dumpster, where I frantically rummaged around without luck... "Who cleaned the room?" I peppered the people at the front desk.
Turns out the poles were in Walker's backpack after all. Oof.
Before Skywalker, I read Jim "Gravity" Smith's excellent daily blog of his time on the same trail. It is a thoughtful, spiritual and measured rumination. In contrast, this author feels like a bit of a bombastic and unreliable narrator. For example, the author is 48 and 49 during the odyssey, but it's never clear why he's on the PCT other than he walked the Appalachian Trail about two years earlier and the PCT seems like fertile ground for proving his grit while ogling young women. Even as Walker traverses an ice field alone I found myself juxtaposing the tense moment with an image of him, a man nearly seven feet tall, berating and threatening hotel staff over ten poles. Walker's adventure might have suffered if he didn't locate his gear but in that moment, most likely it was the workers who felt their very livelihoods were on the line.
July 11, 2020
This is Bill "Sky" Walker's second book; in the first he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Neither a journal nor a poetic description of the vista, Walker's books give the armchair reader an honest feel for what it is like to undertake these long-distance hikes: the terrain, the weather, the hardships, the community of hikers.
These are enjoyable reads. I see he has a third about a trek int he Himalayas... I will certainly be purchasing it soon.
I have to add that while his writing has improved significantly,and the books is fun and difficult to put down, I agree with other reviewers that his obsession with the physical attributes of young female hikers he meets is annoying-- Come on, Bill, you were 49 when you wrote this! Time to grow up.
Neither a journal nor a poetic description of the vista, Walker's books give the armchair reader an honest feel for what it is like to undertake these long-distance hikes: the terrain, the weather, the hardships, the community of hikers.
These are enjoyable reads. I see he has a third about a trek int he Himalayas... I will certainly be purchasing it soon.
I have to add that while his writing has improved significantly,and the books is fun and difficult to put down, I agree with other reviewers that his obsession with the physical attributes of young female hikers he meets is annoying-- Come on, Bill, you were 49 when you wrote this! Time to grow up.
October 19, 2020
A 6’11” 49 year old Appalachian Trail thru-hiker attempts the Pacific Crest Trail. The writing is amateurish at best and the author is weirdly and repeatedly creepy about listing all the young, attractive girls he meets on the trail. I enjoyed getting his input about the various sections of the trail and the problems he encountered, but it was a sporadic and episodic story that felt disjointed and lacked both depth of reflection and any truly helpful thru-hiking know how. Ultimately just a weird dude’s trail journal. I read this book in my preparation for the Appalachian Trail when I was reading every book I could on the topic. This one was slightly below average in a slightly below average genre of literature.
C-
C-
June 2, 2020
I am in two minds with this book.
On the one hand it is very insightful and well written. Bill went to great lengths to research the places he visited. I have learned a lot and I really wanted to do this hike in a few years. After reading this book, I feel this is maybe a bit too adventurous for me.
And then on the other hand... Quoting the book: "What is it about these trails that all the girls are so attractive?" This is a bit creepy coming from a 48-year-old man talking about 20 something girls.
On the one hand it is very insightful and well written. Bill went to great lengths to research the places he visited. I have learned a lot and I really wanted to do this hike in a few years. After reading this book, I feel this is maybe a bit too adventurous for me.
And then on the other hand... Quoting the book: "What is it about these trails that all the girls are so attractive?" This is a bit creepy coming from a 48-year-old man talking about 20 something girls.
March 14, 2021
This book was poorly written, uninteresting, and problematic. Do we really need to go in depth about the women he meets on the trail and how attractive they are to him? That was one of the first things that turned me off about this book. Another thing was how it was so choppy and I had such a difficult time following this book because of that. Overall, I would have given this zero starts, however I DID really enjoy the part of the book when he talked about the history of John Muir, which is why I decided on 2 stars. Aside from that little snippet, wouldn't recommend at all.
January 11, 2023
I appreciate the perspective, but it was downright uncomfortable at times. Sprinkled with misogyny and irrelevant political rants. Despite his supposed plea that the trail is diverse in one chapter, the rest of the book would leave a lot of that community feeling pretty unwelcome.
I’m really hoping the author has grown up since writing this, but I don’t think I’m going to take a chance and bother with reading any of his other works.
Also, FULL of typos and the occasional one that made a sentence incomprehensible.
I’m really hoping the author has grown up since writing this, but I don’t think I’m going to take a chance and bother with reading any of his other works.
Also, FULL of typos and the occasional one that made a sentence incomprehensible.
September 26, 2018
I read his first book on the AT hike a number of years ago, but don't recall it specifically. He tends to go a little "Bill Bryson" in this book, sharing facts about the PCT and other related topics to his hike. I found the story, at times, a little disconnected, although have great admiration for his persistence to finish the hike.
September 13, 2019
This book is "one of the good ones" when it comes to reading about the PCT. Too often, PCT (like JMT and AT) books read like travel journals. While this one is in fact a travel journal, there is enough personal interaction to maintain reader interest. Walker seems like a great man; I'd love to hike beside him one day.
April 22, 2020
Great light and entertaining read of Bill Walker's adventures and the people he met on his travels walking the Pacific Crest Trail.
Perfect listening for that long car trip and makes you feel that something like this may even be possible for you if Bill can do it.
I listened to the Unabridged Audible Audio Book version of this.
Perfect listening for that long car trip and makes you feel that something like this may even be possible for you if Bill can do it.
I listened to the Unabridged Audible Audio Book version of this.
September 7, 2025
Enjoyable and lighthearted. I've always understood the PCT through-hike to be extremely demanding physically, but had not realized the considerable physical hardship and dangers encountered by the hikers.
June 12, 2017
Skywalker on the PCT
Another great account of hiking by Bill Walker! He says he is just an average hiker, but he perseveres! Well written!
Another great account of hiking by Bill Walker! He says he is just an average hiker, but he perseveres! Well written!
September 24, 2017
very interesting. recommend it!
January 9, 2018
Another winner
Bills writing is as down home as peach pie or some fried green tomatoes. Not focusing too much on the day to day but the adventure of it all.
Bills writing is as down home as peach pie or some fried green tomatoes. Not focusing too much on the day to day but the adventure of it all.
March 3, 2018
Great start, slow fish
Finish
Finish
July 23, 2018
Awesome book of PCT trial. True and honest experiences and adventures of his through hike.
January 16, 2019
The story itself is fine but it is really hard to get over his racism and chauvinism.
August 12, 2019
That book is so fantastic.
August 8, 2020
Didn't really enjoy this, too much detail on other aspects of history. Wanted more of the hiking
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