A Season on the Trail: An American Odyssey

by Lynn Setzer

Each spring, a group of people attempt a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Setzer follows these determined hikers from Georgia to Maine. In this new edition, hikers reveal five years later how their experiences on the Trail changed their lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors

222 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

Reviews

[Victoria Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been captivated by the idea of a thru-hike since first learning of the existence of the trail while watching a PBS documentary in my early twenties. Unfortunately for me, at that time, I was a newlywed Mormon wife (now divorced and no longer Mormon) and was married to a man who had already forbade me from participating in a Russian language immersion program being offered by my university that I wanted to take part in because it involved several months in Russia and “married people don’t do that.” So when I learned about the AT I stored this away as more things married people don’t get to do. In my post-divorce and post-Mormon era, I read “Wild,” which inspired my new last name and reminded me about this earlier life goal. I remain transfixed by the idea and this book has once again reignited it.

[Vizma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different way to present AT stories - a compilation of people that were on the trail during one summer. Great reading about the different experiences on the trail!

[Jan J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting-wish I could do it!

[Mark Gaskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the honesty of this book! I can't wait to hike the AT!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A broad collection of interviews, stories, and register lifts. Giving a better answer of the why? factor.
Realistic experiences and motivations
"Some hikers came . . . because they didn't want their lives to be a collection of 'I wish I hads.' "I got tired of listening to my father talk about the things he wished he'd done. He's too old now, too frail. And he's angry about it." (p.25-26)
and
"I've been someone's daughter and I've been someone's wife and I've been someone's employee, but I'm still not sure who I am." (p.27)

Reminding me of Last Child in the Woods "Indeed, the Appalachian Trail is a living, breathing, challenging, outdoor classroom, more powerful in its impact than any textbook could ever be." (p. 120)

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

inspiring

[Kathryn Imbriani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. The format is a little different but all in all I enjoyed this!