Ten Million Steps: Nimblewill Nomad's Epic 10-Month Trek from the Florida Keys to Québec

by M.J. Eberhart

A gripping true tale of one man’s journey along the Eastern Continental Trail M. J. Eberhart, aka the Nimblewill Nomad, was a 60-year-old retired doctor in January 1998 when he set off on a foot journey that carried him 4,400 miles (twice the length of the Appalachian Trail) from the Florida Keys to the far north of Quebec. Written in a vivid journal style, the author unabashedly recounts the good (friendships with other hikers he met), the bad (sore legs, cutting winds and rain), and the godawful (those dispiriting doubts) aspects of his days of walking along what has since become known as the Eastern Continental Trail (ECT). An amazing tale of self-discovery and insight into the magic that reverberates from intense physical exertion and a high goal, Eberhart’s is the only written account of a thru-hike along the ECT. Covering 16 states and 2 Canadian provinces, Ten Million Steps deftly mixes practical considerations of an almost unimaginable undertaking with the author’s trademark humor and philosophical musings.

Genres: Travel, Outdoors, Nonfiction

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

After retiring first from the armed forces, and then from a busy optometric practice, I started hiking and backpacking in the early eighties. During that time I managed to hike a good bit of the Florida Trail and about half of the Appalachian Trail, from Springer Mountain Georgia to Duncannon Pennsylvania, all in jerks and starts over a period of fifteen or so years. In January 1998, I set out on my first uninterrupted long distance hike. That trek began on the Florida Trail, thence continued to the Cliffs of Forillon, Cap Gaspé Quebec, a distance of over 4,000 miles. During that time I took on the trail name: Nimblewill Nomad. The years 2000 and 2001 brought about nearly that same hike in reverse, the first known trek o’er the entire Appalachian Mountain Range, at least as we know the majestic Appalachians to exist on the North American continent. That journey lasted 347 days, covered a distance of over 5,000 miles, and included a hike through the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland. 2002 brought a cross-continental trek, an adventure-filled journey that lasted 147 days, over 3,000 miles, from the old lighthouse at Cape Hatteras North Carolina, to another old lighthouse at Point Loma in San Diego California. In 2003, in preparation for a trek up the Lewis and Clark Trail that runs from St. Louis Missouri to Fort Clatsop on the Pacific, a journey, God willing that I’ll attempt at age 66, I loosened my legs by hiking the Natchez Trace Trail, from Nashville Tennessee to Natchez Mississippi.

Reviews

[Todd Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

First let me say that Nimblewill Nomad's accomplishment of walking more than 4,400 miles from the Florida Keys to Quebec in 10 months (at the age of 60 no less) is quite a spectacular feat. Since that time (he completed this hike in 1998) he has continued to do many remarkable long distance treks which may be found on his web site at:
http://www.nimblewillnomad.com/

With that out of the way, I have to say his book is really not very good. It consists entirely of daily journal entries and is written exactly as you might expect for a personal journal written for oneself.

The book has no narrative (other than - here's what I did today), no interesting insights or broad perspective (my feet hurt, it's raining, I saw some nice scenery) and his writing style is really not very good. On top of it all, I found his frequent religious, preachy references annoying.

I hiked the AT in 1994 and thought it might be interesting to re-live some of those memories. This book was not the way to go about it.

[Bert Tomlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most incredible journeys. I felt as though I followed along with Nimblewill and we were friends. One of those books and journeys you don't want to end. I would recommend you have an Atlas with you to follow this wonderful foot path.

[Mylifethroughmovements · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, without a doubt, my favorite book of 2021! It’s a journal of one man’s hike from Florida to Canada, with an account for each day. He recently completed another thru-hike of the AT, becoming the oldest man to do so.
The book would not appeal for very long to non-hikers, and really is best read in short spurts over a long period. It would be tedious and a lot would be lost if the reader were to read it in one big gulp.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the reviews on this book after I purchased it and was a bit hesitant in committing the time necessary to read this book. Completing this book took me longer than usual as it isn't a fast read per se. With that said, I enjoyed reading this book. The trials and tribulations Nomad encountered during this 4,000 mile hike was entertaining with its ups and downs. Reading about the many, many people who assisted him during this odyssey of his restored my faith in humanity just a little bit more. Not to mention, the incredible amount of hospitality the Canadian people showered upon Nomad Nimblewill makes me want to vacation in Canada! I suggest this read for those who are contemplating hiking the AT or any long distance hike as well as for those who want to read the day to day account of a 60 year old hikers Odyssey in the great outdoors.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is entirely built of journal entries for 11 months of hiking. For someone longing for the trail, this book is absolutely a must-read. Funny, emotional, delightful and uplifting. The closing bits on each day's entry are so varied, some very poignant. One of them reads “Nomad, you must certainly realize that you carry a lot of other people’s dreams with you on your odyssey.” - As I read that I thought to myself "not just then but now more than 20 years later we still read his words and dream of following.

[Tish Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book from from page to page from beginning to end with words. No wasted space. This man walked the entire East Coast from Key West to Canada. It only pushes me more to get out there. The descriptions in this book are amazing.
I’ll hopefully get to meet this man in October as he is the caretaker for a hiking area close to me.

[Joe Measell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great journey. I can see why some people might not enjoy it, but his daily entries allowed me to live vicariously through him. Highly recommend!

[Sandy]

One of the few books I didn’t finish; was ok enough.
Perhaps it wasn’t the right time for me to enjoy . . .

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book at first. I realized that MJ Eberhart chronicled every day of his 11-month journey in 1998 walking 4400 miles from the Florida Keys to Cap Gaspe in Quebec where the Appalachian Mountains descend into the sea. That's 297 days! He always listed where he began and where he stopped each day and the people he met along the way. I almost put the book down after about 50 pages as I wasn't sure I was interested in the "statistical" aspect of it. But I found myself being drawn into his walk by his genuine joy over the relationships he formed, his awe at the glory of nature and his tenacity as he encountered physical pain, cold, hunger and the challenges of fording rushing rivers, finding shelter in thunderstorms and dragging himself up mountainsides after cracking his ribs in a fall. His writing style became endearing to me; it brought to mind the pioneer journals I've read from the 1800's--a bit flowery and descriptive and a tad old-fashioned. In the end, I found myself deeply admiring this 59-year-old man who succeeded in accomplishing something many younger people have tried and failed.

[Will Waller · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are epic journeys and then there are epic journeys. The one that MJ Eberhart took goes in the latter category. What an incredible tale of miles walked on the feet and miles walked in the heart. I truly enjoyed reading this journal of a man who walked from Florida to Quebec and the people that he met. He obviously is someone who is gregarious, making friends easily. He is a bit odd though (obviously!) because he enjoys road walks tremendously. That's a bit strange because as someone who has walked a good bit too, I don't quite get having tractor trailers blowing by you at 70 mph enjoyable. Still, he enthralls the reader. Another aspect that I think is subtly done is his love of God that he intersperses throughout. It peppers the narrative at appropriate times. Finally, one of my favorite parts of the book are his exposes over other hikers that he meets along his journey. They are real people and after googling them, I found out they've struggled since getting off the trail in 1998 with living in the "real world." Thankfully, the Nomad reminds us that there's always more trails to be hiked and more miles to go before we die. Very enjoyable book.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a journal of a very long hike -- not just a physical hike, but a spiritual and mental one. Nimblewill Nomad began this trek, I believe, at the age of 59. He is now 73 or so and is STILL trekking! The book is boring at times, but that is the spirit of hiking... ups and downs and a lot of "blah" -- but it teaches you who you are. I gotta tell you, though, the book DOES start out with a BANG! I about died laughing! But I gotta keep on trudging with him.. so I can finish his trek.

I recommend this book to folks who would enjoy a day-to-day journal of a fellow who was 59-60 during a hike that is sometimes very challenging and sometimes very mundane. If you are interested in long-distance hiking, this book will do a good job of showing you what trials you may encounter particularly in weather. Learn from others so you'll be better prepared yourself. It is a slow read for me, but I continue on ...

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

M.J. Eberhart, Nimblewill Nomad, writes of his epic ten month hike from the Florida Keys, through the Appalachian Trail, and onto the northern trail in Quebec. It is a day by day journal which allows the reader to follow him as he hikes through flooded trails of Florida, through snow, heat, thunderstorms and the cold onset of winter in Quebec. Fittingly he finishes the northern part in Quebec on Oct. 30th, his 60th birthday. It is hard to imagine, unless you read Nomad's book, the strenght and fortitude it took to overcome, not only the weather, the difficulty of the trails but also physical aliments to complete this amazing journey.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing story, but not really a story. This is the trail journal of 'Nimblewill Nomad' as he becomes one of the first people to hike the Eastern Continental Trail from Key West to Northern Quebec. It's an interesting read, but being a journal, I could always go to trailjournals.com to read similar stuff. That said, it's one of the better backpacking journals I've read. My only complaint is my problem rather than his, in that he gets a little preachy in places. If I were Christian, perhaps I'd appreciate it, but again, this is my problem, not his.

[Kris Holland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this book a great rating. The author is likeable, & I truly admire him for the quest he undertook. However, there is something about the way it is written that seemed choppy to me, and it was all too easy to put the book down & not pick it up again for several days at a time. Something was just missing from the descriptions and stories about the author's on-foot quest from the Florida Keys to the end of the International Appalachian Trail (in Quebec), or maybe I was just expecting too much. Either way, I have to give it just two stars.

[Bradley Saum · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique accomplishment and well documented! Eberhart includes detailed logging of miles hiked each day, locations where he overnighted, and specific logistical information. The journal was fascinating and I felt like I was right there hiking with him. Some of the thru-hikers he meets are highlighted with some limited background data. I believe there is another story that Eberhart could tell by relaying the personal experiences, feelings and interactions with people along the way. As it is written, a great documentary of his incredible journey.

[lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story of a 59 year old man who retires and is determined to hike the a trail that winds up the entire east coast from Florida through to Canada. He is incredibly resilient as he meets some insane challenges including weather extremes, terrain that is almost insurmountable, loneliness, fear and despair. Despite all this, he completes his journey and emerges a changed and improved man.

[Chad Kerchner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good journal type reading, but I found it rather tedious and not as enjoyable to read to the finish. That being said, I truly admire the man for his strength, courage and dedication to his task as well as his insight and worldview as he transit through the journey. I found myself thinking more than once that I would probably enjoy following in his footsteps, but I truly believe the time will tell if that will be a reality.

[David Kessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nimblewood Nomad is a unique hiker and makes leaves no stone unturned. A journal of his hike from Key West north along the SE of the US and onto the AT and then finished in Canada in Quebec where the St Lawrence River drains into the Atlantic. An epic walk taking 11months time. You get to follow every step; it is useful to me now since I shall be hiking 1200 mi of the AT this June-Aug.

[Rodney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

[Mjh · Rating 5 out of 5]

from Key West to Appalachian go into sea in Canada. good humored. spiritual.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tad hard to get really into, but good read for a quick pick up and put down...