Fat Man Walking: 330 Pounds and 2200 Miles on the Appalachian Trail

by James Kinch

With a starting body weight of 330 pounds, not a single day spent training, and 2198.4 miles of walking ahead of him, James Kinch embarked on a second thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in the spring of 2023, determined to satisfy his appetite for adventure and for food. Loaded with sarcastic humor and a near-obsession with all of the eating available on the trail, his journals in Fat Man Walking offer a candid look at daily life as a bigger thru-hiker, and give a glimpse into his own thoughts on the greater meaning that might be found on top of the mountain.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2025

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this AT thru hike book! Brought back so many memories. Wish I could have read it before my hike, but then I wouldn’t have been in the book :) - Hot Hands