The Appalachian Trail Hiker is a one-stop guide to preparing for and hiking the A.T. Although primarily geared to prepare and sustain the intrepid thru hiker, the book is also a must-have for anyone who wishes to experience the A.T., whether for an hour or for six months.
A nice book on long distance hiking, with helpful and detailed advice. Mostly focused on the Appalachian Trail, but that makes sense when you see the title of the book. :-) All advice can be applied to other hikes as well. I found it easy to read and instructive. Some parts are a bit dated (Maps on CD-roms? Hehe). Great for beginners and people interested in long distance hikes.
This book is full of good information and advice about taking any long hike, not just the Appalachian Trail. It was not, however, what I was looking for when I picked it up. I was looking for more specific information. I guess I was expecting a trail guide, which this is not. This book is full of advice about equipment, what to bring and what not to bring. Advice on tents, sleeping bags, boots, socks and trail etiquette. All in all a good read, just not what I was looking for. I am still giving 5 stars because I cannot fault the book or the author for not being the trail guide I was expecting. This book was not intended as a trail guide, but for what the author intended the book to be, it does admirably.
I don't know if there's a newer edition (the one I read was published in 2004) but it has a lot of very good information on everything from what you'll need to types of materials for equipment and when to go. If you can, read something more updated as well because technology and the trail change every year. The only complaint I have is that it could be rather repetitive, sometimes rewording and restating the same thing just a few sentences later.
This was a very informative book for anyone planning to hike the trail, but it seemed a bit "beginner" to me compared to other guides I've read. First aid, food, etc were talked about in very broad, general terms. I think it could be helpful, but there are so many other guides out there with more specifics that would be better.
I gave this three stars because most of it is a how to backpack, camp, etc. I know how to do that and I figure someone considering the trail does too. I thought it would be more in depth about different sections of the trail.
Definitely for beginners! I've only been on a few trips and I knew most of the information in this book. However, the meal ideas were good as was the chapter on emergencies and first aid.