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Trail Gimp: Self Discovery and Empowerment on The Appalachian Trail
April's life was at a crossroads. Her cousin's passing and a series of failures had left her feeling lost and unsure of herself. But then she had an idea - to hike the Appalachian Trail. Inexperienced and unprepared, April set out on a journey that would change her life forever. After her first attempt ended early due to injuries, April returns two years later, determined to finish what she had started.
Her story is filled with laughter, tears, and everything in between. From comical mishaps to profound realizations, April's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the human spirit. Through trail magic and romance, injuries and setbacks, April discovers her strength and becomes empowered by her choices.
Her journey takes her through 2,160 miles of breathtaking scenery, from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. For experienced hikers and armchair enthusiasts alike, April's memoir is a gripping and inspiring tale of one woman's quest to find herself on the Appalachian Trail.
Her story is filled with laughter, tears, and everything in between. From comical mishaps to profound realizations, April's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the human spirit. Through trail magic and romance, injuries and setbacks, April discovers her strength and becomes empowered by her choices.
Her journey takes her through 2,160 miles of breathtaking scenery, from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. For experienced hikers and armchair enthusiasts alike, April's memoir is a gripping and inspiring tale of one woman's quest to find herself on the Appalachian Trail.
246 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2023
10 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 16, 2023
April shares the story of her two-part Appalachian trail adventure. Having set out in 1996 and bailed from the attempt, she goes out to start again in 1998. A good reminder that sometimes it takes more than one try to reach your goals (something we don’t often see in the trail genre). It is obvious in her writing how much care she put into telling this story.
February 6, 2025
Excellent book about the AT! Loved it!
December 10, 2023
Throughout this book I found myself laughing out loud as I related to so many of April’s hiking mishaps and stories. I’ve never hiked the A.T., but have hiked a bunch of the Adirondack High Peaks. I loved the lessons throughout the book about perseverance, accepting your wins no matter how big or small, and learning from your failures. Failures should be looked at as a form of feedback, not a hindrance. They are there to redirect you, give you that nudge to find your true path. This book inspires me to keep moving forward on my own path. To get out and enjoy the wilderness. It makes me want to get out and hike more, to breathe in nature’s fresh clean air and drown myself in all its magical beauty. Thank you April for telling your story and being an inspiration for all of us. I highly recommend Trail Gimp! What a great read.
July 22, 2023
Trail Gimp is the trail name for a woman who finds herself on the Appalachian Trail. As with the pursuits of so many of us, her journey of discovery isn’t linear, and it isn’t without fits and frustrations. But whose life is? “Gimp” is candid, honest, and bold, an eminently likable character who takes you along for an exciting, engaging journey on her walk from Georgia to Maine.
She will tell you all about the challenges of hiking 2,160 miles, and it is fun to watch her confidence grow as she moves north. But more importantly, she will tell you about the challenges of pushing limits, overcoming adversity and finding a true sense of self. Trail Gimp is fun, funny, and basically, a bad-ass woman who isn’t going to stop until she achieves her goal.
Whether you intend to hike 1,000 miles or 0, “Trail Gimp” will leave you inspired to chase your own dreams and believe in yourself. Go Gimp!!
She will tell you all about the challenges of hiking 2,160 miles, and it is fun to watch her confidence grow as she moves north. But more importantly, she will tell you about the challenges of pushing limits, overcoming adversity and finding a true sense of self. Trail Gimp is fun, funny, and basically, a bad-ass woman who isn’t going to stop until she achieves her goal.
Whether you intend to hike 1,000 miles or 0, “Trail Gimp” will leave you inspired to chase your own dreams and believe in yourself. Go Gimp!!
June 6, 2025
Absolutely wonderful book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this journey of the Appalachian Trail by someone who is very easy to relate to. This is a book I will recommend and share with everyone I know. I hope to see a second book by this writer
February 6, 2024
Trail Gimp:Self Discovery and Empowerment on The Appalachian Trail
By April Weygand
A captivating journey of self-discovery along the Appalachian Trail, and a story of the power of personal growth, Trail Gimp is a memoir that unveils the tale of a young girl's transformative journey amidst the landscapes of the Appalachian Trail. In a very readable and personable, yet captivating story of resilience, determination, and self-discovery, April triumphs over the challenges that lie both on the trail and within herself.
Written in the first person makes this book real, and paints a vivid tapestry of personal growth and self-discovery. April’s sense of humor, boundless determination, and realistic, logical views of herself and her situations, make this a read that will stay with you long after finishing the last page.
By April Weygand
A captivating journey of self-discovery along the Appalachian Trail, and a story of the power of personal growth, Trail Gimp is a memoir that unveils the tale of a young girl's transformative journey amidst the landscapes of the Appalachian Trail. In a very readable and personable, yet captivating story of resilience, determination, and self-discovery, April triumphs over the challenges that lie both on the trail and within herself.
Written in the first person makes this book real, and paints a vivid tapestry of personal growth and self-discovery. April’s sense of humor, boundless determination, and realistic, logical views of herself and her situations, make this a read that will stay with you long after finishing the last page.
October 27, 2023
This book was totally incredible and inspiring journey through April’s adventures through the AT and through life. This told the story of the human will, the lessons you learn along the way and plain and simple just made me smile throughout the book. What a great book, that o would recommend to anyone. Enjoy it!
October 2, 2025
Trail Gimp by April Weygand is one of those memoirs that sneaks up on you part adventure tale, part soul-searching journey, and part laugh-out-loud comedy of errors. What struck me most wasn’t just April’s determination to take on the Appalachian Trail, but the raw honesty with which she tells her story. She doesn’t pretend to be the fearless, perfectly prepared hiker; she admits to her mistakes, her doubts, and the moments where everything went sideways. And somehow, that makes the victories all the more powerful.
The first attempt on the trail ends in disappointment, and it would have been easy for her to leave it at that. But reading about her return two years later with the grit to face unfinished business was incredibly moving. The trail itself almost becomes a character in the book: sometimes cruel, sometimes magical, and always demanding. I loved the moments of “trail magic” and the chance encounters with fellow hikers that gave the story heart and humor. There’s even a thread of romance woven in, which added warmth without taking away from the deeper themes of resilience and self-discovery.
What I appreciated most is that Trail Gimp isn’t just about walking 2,160 miles. It’s about learning to walk through grief, through failure, and into a stronger version of yourself. April shows us that sometimes empowerment doesn’t come from conquering mountains but from continuing forward when your body and spirit are both screaming to stop.
If you’ve ever dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail or if you’ve simply wanted to witness someone wrestle with their limits and come out the other side you’ll find this book inspiring. It’s heartfelt, funny, and unflinchingly real. By the end, I felt like I had hiked alongside April, shared her pain and her triumph, and most importantly, cheered her on every step of the way.
The first attempt on the trail ends in disappointment, and it would have been easy for her to leave it at that. But reading about her return two years later with the grit to face unfinished business was incredibly moving. The trail itself almost becomes a character in the book: sometimes cruel, sometimes magical, and always demanding. I loved the moments of “trail magic” and the chance encounters with fellow hikers that gave the story heart and humor. There’s even a thread of romance woven in, which added warmth without taking away from the deeper themes of resilience and self-discovery.
What I appreciated most is that Trail Gimp isn’t just about walking 2,160 miles. It’s about learning to walk through grief, through failure, and into a stronger version of yourself. April shows us that sometimes empowerment doesn’t come from conquering mountains but from continuing forward when your body and spirit are both screaming to stop.
If you’ve ever dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail or if you’ve simply wanted to witness someone wrestle with their limits and come out the other side you’ll find this book inspiring. It’s heartfelt, funny, and unflinchingly real. By the end, I felt like I had hiked alongside April, shared her pain and her triumph, and most importantly, cheered her on every step of the way.
December 2, 2023
I enjoyed reading this book! As a former teacher I can understand her frustration with the education system and the lack of support many teachers experience. After losing her job, April decides to go hiking when she is at an impasse about what to do next with her life. She chooses to hike the Appalachian trail.
This hike required doing something different, difficult, physically and psychologically challenging.
In this book we see the hurdles April had to overcome during her journey. She had to overcome the pain in her hip and many other uncomfortable conditions on the trail. And yet, she doesn't let that deter her from her goal. We see her growth as a person in her relations with others.
I appreciated her determination to complete the hike even with pain and a limp. It made me feel that
I also can overcome physical and psychological obstacles by my determination to reach my goal.
This is a great book for a young person that needs the encouragement to keep going, or for an older person like myself that needs to overcome some physical impediments. INSPIRING!
Maria Zorovich Gavila
This hike required doing something different, difficult, physically and psychologically challenging.
In this book we see the hurdles April had to overcome during her journey. She had to overcome the pain in her hip and many other uncomfortable conditions on the trail. And yet, she doesn't let that deter her from her goal. We see her growth as a person in her relations with others.
I appreciated her determination to complete the hike even with pain and a limp. It made me feel that
I also can overcome physical and psychological obstacles by my determination to reach my goal.
This is a great book for a young person that needs the encouragement to keep going, or for an older person like myself that needs to overcome some physical impediments. INSPIRING!
Maria Zorovich Gavila
September 15, 2024
An Okay Story
This wasn’t the best thru-hiking book I’ve read, but it’s an easy read. It doesn’t do much to explain the trail, there’s no depth to the story/characters and it seemed to jump around. I’m not sure the overall purpose. It felt like talking to a person at a gathering for an hour but walking away not really knowing them any better. The best part was the lessons learned at the end
This wasn’t the best thru-hiking book I’ve read, but it’s an easy read. It doesn’t do much to explain the trail, there’s no depth to the story/characters and it seemed to jump around. I’m not sure the overall purpose. It felt like talking to a person at a gathering for an hour but walking away not really knowing them any better. The best part was the lessons learned at the end
December 21, 2025
April shares the most inspiring story of her journey on the Appalachian Trail. To say she overcame obstacles is an understatement and she makes you really think about your life. Highly recommend to those looking to get more out of your life!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews