A Walk Atop America

by Douglas J. Butler

In A Walk Atop America, Douglas Butler chronicles his quest to scale the highest geographical point in each of the 50 United States. Some state summits were easy Florida s highest point is a 345-foot-high sandy knoll; Delaware s is a suburban intersection. Other peaks tested Butler s stamina and resolve. California s Mt Whitney required a 22-mile hike. To reach the top of Alaska s Mt. McKinley, Butler endured Arctic storms and minus 20-degree temperatures. Throughout this book, Butler intersperses climbing narratives with the tales of the places he visited and the people he met.

Genres: Nonfiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Douglas Butler is an adventure travel writer and award-winning photographer whose hiking, trekking and climbing journeys have taken him to five continents. A love of people, sensitivity to native cultures and joy in exploring remote and pristine areas are shared through his prose and photography, work that has appeared in numerous regional and national publications. He has also published Ashe County - Discovering the Lost Province, a book about the North Carolina mountain region he calls home. An emergency and family medicine physician, Dr. Butler continues to work with underserved populations on American Indian reservations.

Reviews

[Will Waller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at a library sale, and am glad I did. When I was in high school, I would read next to everything that was some guy's adventure on the Appalachian Trail. Even though I lived but one hour from the trail, I rarely got on it physically. Instead, I would travel with these hikers north on the trail with them in their travelogues. It was a substitute, but one I needed to satisfy my longing.

Now, I am the same way with books on high pointing. To get on the highest peaks is my dream, and for the author it is The Dream. I'm eager to hike more of them, but until that day comes, this is my substitute.

The writing is surprisingly good, thorough and compelling. I wish he would have written more about his family and the sacrifices they made to enable him to do this. Further, he should have spent some time describing the high points he had done prior to adopting the dream of all 50 states. That's missing in the book.

I recommend it to any potential or current high pointer. Worth your time with this worthy companion.

[Granny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book! Douglas Butler is a travel writer, photographer and physician, who dreamed of "State Highpointing," hiking to the highest point in each of the 50 states. These "high points" range from Mt McKinley in Alaska, to Britton Hill in Florida (350 ft. - that's one I could hike to!). There are 8 pages of Butler's stunning color photographs, and black and whites throughout. This granny with bad knees will never ascend most of these peaks, but reading of one nan's quest reminds us that dreams -- as well as mountain tops -- can be achieved. Very readable on many levels -- travel guide, adventure and personal narrative. Paperback; 267 pages. Parkway Publishers.