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Stepping Wild: Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Mingo
The decision to hike the Appalachian Trail came too easy. How hard could it be? Having more experience than most, who attempt the over two thousand mile hike, Phill decided to go for it. Little did he know, trouble was waiting for him. He did not hike to “find himself,” nor out of inspiration nor desperation. The five month journey tested his strength, endurance, courage and caused more pain than expected. How hard could it be? The answer to that is here in “STEPPING WILD.” What could go wrong, did! The experience was exhilarating and terrifying. A hike, over two thousand miles, is filled with highs and lows, humor and grief, and obstacles that could break any man. The Appalachian Trail, a true American treasure, attracts thousands of hikers each year, like moths to a flame. Phill was drawn to that challenge. His troubles began before he ever saw the trail. With determination and grit, he made his way northbound from Georgia to Maine. New skill sets were acquired as Phill, trail name “Mingo”, faced dangerous situations and errors brought on by his own overconfidence. This was Mingo’s hike, one that should have never been possible. It was a hike that should not be forgotten.
- GenresNonfiction
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
48 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 9, 2017
I've read several books written by thru hikers and this has to be the worst one. I only managed to skim the last half of the book to finish it.
The author is supposedly a 49 yr old ex special forces and retired cop and acts more like a teenage boy with a huge chip on his shoulder. I honestly am not sure I believe that he's truly an ex special forces because it seems he'd be much better trained to handle some of the situations the trail throws his way.
Anyhow, When he's not trying to play up what a great, helpful guy he is or droning on and on about how horrible his luck is, how much pain he is in and how miserable hiking is, he's looking for a reason to get in a fight with another hiker or complain about how people are being rude and disrespectful to him and often getting in their face about things. The guy actually sounds like quite an a**.
Yes, to be fair, from every book I've read, you will be wet, hurting, cold, miserable, have bad luck and all that out on the trail, but I've never had an author focus so much of his book on that aspect of it. I've never read a book where the author has had a problem with so many other hikers. Come to think of it, I'm not really sure I've come across any other authors who've had issues with a fellow hiker, other than maybe someone they just don't click with and they just don't hike together.
Another thing to point out about this particular hike is that he does not 'hike' the AT in the same way most thru hikers do. As he points out, everyone should 'hike their own hike' and I agree, but if you're looking for a story of someone who's really out on the trail most of the time, this is not it. Compared to other books I've read, he spends a lot more time running into towns for meals, breaks and does a much larger amount of 'slack packing'. Not that that's wrong, he did do the whole trail, but there are other books out there where you will find the hikers truly in the woods way more than this guy.
There are much better books about the AT out there. Barefoot Sisters is a great one and when I have time to pull up my library and look, I'll come back and edit this and list a few other good ones.
The author is supposedly a 49 yr old ex special forces and retired cop and acts more like a teenage boy with a huge chip on his shoulder. I honestly am not sure I believe that he's truly an ex special forces because it seems he'd be much better trained to handle some of the situations the trail throws his way.
Anyhow, When he's not trying to play up what a great, helpful guy he is or droning on and on about how horrible his luck is, how much pain he is in and how miserable hiking is, he's looking for a reason to get in a fight with another hiker or complain about how people are being rude and disrespectful to him and often getting in their face about things. The guy actually sounds like quite an a**.
Yes, to be fair, from every book I've read, you will be wet, hurting, cold, miserable, have bad luck and all that out on the trail, but I've never had an author focus so much of his book on that aspect of it. I've never read a book where the author has had a problem with so many other hikers. Come to think of it, I'm not really sure I've come across any other authors who've had issues with a fellow hiker, other than maybe someone they just don't click with and they just don't hike together.
Another thing to point out about this particular hike is that he does not 'hike' the AT in the same way most thru hikers do. As he points out, everyone should 'hike their own hike' and I agree, but if you're looking for a story of someone who's really out on the trail most of the time, this is not it. Compared to other books I've read, he spends a lot more time running into towns for meals, breaks and does a much larger amount of 'slack packing'. Not that that's wrong, he did do the whole trail, but there are other books out there where you will find the hikers truly in the woods way more than this guy.
There are much better books about the AT out there. Barefoot Sisters is a great one and when I have time to pull up my library and look, I'll come back and edit this and list a few other good ones.
May 9, 2020
The author had serious anger issues...
I gave this book three stars. It was not a bad book. In fact, the contents and stories of his and adventures were quite interesting and even entertaining, but the author had some serious anger issues. He always felt it was his duty to tell people how rude and obnoxious they were and if they didn't comply to his rules his was going to destroy them. His attitude got old very quickly and one has to wonder just how big of jerk this dude was for someone to have that many bad encounters with other folks. If he wrote other books, I would probably pass just because of his greater than thou attitude. Of the 50 plus AT & PCT Trail books I have read, this is one of the most disappointing, as far, not connecting with the author.
I gave this book three stars. It was not a bad book. In fact, the contents and stories of his and adventures were quite interesting and even entertaining, but the author had some serious anger issues. He always felt it was his duty to tell people how rude and obnoxious they were and if they didn't comply to his rules his was going to destroy them. His attitude got old very quickly and one has to wonder just how big of jerk this dude was for someone to have that many bad encounters with other folks. If he wrote other books, I would probably pass just because of his greater than thou attitude. Of the 50 plus AT & PCT Trail books I have read, this is one of the most disappointing, as far, not connecting with the author.
May 6, 2023
The author sounds like a person I would never want to know.
I love most all books about hiking, especially the AT.
But this book is awful.
The author is a bully who seems to think he is nice. He is not someone I would ever want to meet on a trail or anywhere. If I weren't so interested in reading all I can about hiking the AT I wouldn't have finished it. The writing itself is not good either.
I love most all books about hiking, especially the AT.
But this book is awful.
The author is a bully who seems to think he is nice. He is not someone I would ever want to meet on a trail or anywhere. If I weren't so interested in reading all I can about hiking the AT I wouldn't have finished it. The writing itself is not good either.
September 23, 2017
The book starts off with humor and detail of the author's hike. As the book progresses the negativity in the hiking experience and the dislike of day or section hikers escalates. The trail is there for all to enjoy. The author would do well to let everyone hike their own hike and not confront people who do not meet his expectations.
December 7, 2022
First book I read on a person doing the trail. Good book.
This is the first book I read of someone doing the trail. I enjoyed reading about his adventure. Looking forward to reading about other people adventure on the trail.
This is the first book I read of someone doing the trail. I enjoyed reading about his adventure. Looking forward to reading about other people adventure on the trail.
May 16, 2017
Enjoyable read
I enjoyed this one. After happening on another AT adventure book I decided to read a few more. Each one has had a different perspective on their time on the trail.
I enjoyed this one. After happening on another AT adventure book I decided to read a few more. Each one has had a different perspective on their time on the trail.
January 14, 2019
Good read for vets
Good read for vets, because we understand the struggles bingo had with people and how they can anger you. Good job
Good read for vets, because we understand the struggles bingo had with people and how they can anger you. Good job
June 4, 2021
Read this book
It was a new perspective on the trail. I liked it. The people and different situations were highly enjoyable. The trail sounds hard.
It was a new perspective on the trail. I liked it. The people and different situations were highly enjoyable. The trail sounds hard.
November 17, 2015
STEPPING WILD
Phill Grounds
Outskirts Press (2015)
ISBN 9781478749509
Reviewed by Ben Green for Reader Views (11/15)
When I first saw the cover of “Stepping Wild” by Phill Grounds, I was excited to read and review the book. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is something that, as a native Appalachian, has been on my bucket list for a while. After reading the back cover and realizing Phill served with the U.S. Army Special Forces, I felt there was a lot to be learned from this book. “Stepping Wild” is the account of Phill’s time on the trail, the people he meets, and the adventures and misadventures along the way.
The book starts at the beginning of the trail and ends more or less, at the conclusion of his time on the trail. It contains a lot of good information about trail life and culture, as well as the skills necessary to make it out on the trail. The book itself is not a guide, but more of an autobiography about the author. It is nice to have a first-hand account of the trail in a concise book format, instead of trying to piece together random blog posts or online stories.
Throughout the book, Phill offers useful tips that are worth the cost of the book alone, like not wearing cotton underwear, although I was somewhat surprised he did not already know that. He also gives tips about the different types of people you might meet along the trail and the different types of trails you could potentially take on your journey.
The book is an easy read and not overly long. Phill's writing style is very plain and, at times, his accounts of events seem unnecessarily vague. While a decent enough read for someone interested in the subject matter and looking for a first-hand account of time spent on the trail, as a standalone read the book falls a bit short. Part of this may be due to the style of the writing. I feel that much of this is because Phill does not really make you care about the main character (himself) at all. Throughout the book I felt like his motivation was unclear and he never really lets you get inside his head or know him well enough to care about whether or not hesucceeds on the trail. In other words, there is very little character development and the stakes never feel all that high. Having said that, I did find myself reading the book from cover to cover, searching it for nuggets of useful information and inspiration about the Appalachian Trail, and hiking it.
“Stepping Wild” by Phill Grounds is an excellent first person account of hiking the Appalachian Trail, and anyone who is interested in the trail will find the book informative and inspirational. However, if you are looking for a more entertaining, character-driven narrative then this may not be the best story for you. Overall, I give it three out of five stars.
Phill Grounds
Outskirts Press (2015)
ISBN 9781478749509
Reviewed by Ben Green for Reader Views (11/15)
When I first saw the cover of “Stepping Wild” by Phill Grounds, I was excited to read and review the book. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is something that, as a native Appalachian, has been on my bucket list for a while. After reading the back cover and realizing Phill served with the U.S. Army Special Forces, I felt there was a lot to be learned from this book. “Stepping Wild” is the account of Phill’s time on the trail, the people he meets, and the adventures and misadventures along the way.
The book starts at the beginning of the trail and ends more or less, at the conclusion of his time on the trail. It contains a lot of good information about trail life and culture, as well as the skills necessary to make it out on the trail. The book itself is not a guide, but more of an autobiography about the author. It is nice to have a first-hand account of the trail in a concise book format, instead of trying to piece together random blog posts or online stories.
Throughout the book, Phill offers useful tips that are worth the cost of the book alone, like not wearing cotton underwear, although I was somewhat surprised he did not already know that. He also gives tips about the different types of people you might meet along the trail and the different types of trails you could potentially take on your journey.
The book is an easy read and not overly long. Phill's writing style is very plain and, at times, his accounts of events seem unnecessarily vague. While a decent enough read for someone interested in the subject matter and looking for a first-hand account of time spent on the trail, as a standalone read the book falls a bit short. Part of this may be due to the style of the writing. I feel that much of this is because Phill does not really make you care about the main character (himself) at all. Throughout the book I felt like his motivation was unclear and he never really lets you get inside his head or know him well enough to care about whether or not hesucceeds on the trail. In other words, there is very little character development and the stakes never feel all that high. Having said that, I did find myself reading the book from cover to cover, searching it for nuggets of useful information and inspiration about the Appalachian Trail, and hiking it.
“Stepping Wild” by Phill Grounds is an excellent first person account of hiking the Appalachian Trail, and anyone who is interested in the trail will find the book informative and inspirational. However, if you are looking for a more entertaining, character-driven narrative then this may not be the best story for you. Overall, I give it three out of five stars.
September 28, 2015
Phill Grounds left his day-to-day life behind in 2011 to hike from Georgia to Maine, and he tells his story in Stepping Wild: Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Mingo. He recounts the joys and difficulties of well over 2,000 miles worth of steps along the trail, as all-too-common momentary misery of rain, sore feet, colds, hunger, bugs, and the ilk became a life-changing trip through the beauty and challenge of nature.
Grounds' narrative is direct yet expressive, able to easily put me in his well-worn shoes and describe what he experienced and thought. His informal prose conveys both detail and a sense of the grandeur and challenge of the AT. I also appreciated his no-nonsense personality when confronting people doing stupid things along the trail; etiquette and rules exist both for the safety and consideration of those enjoying the great outdoors and the preservation of the environment. His blunt retired police officer personality doesn't disguise his love for his trail friends and his wife Deb, though!
Stepping Wild offers a treasure trove of information for hikers and backpackers. Grounds is brutally honest about his own mistakes and assumptions, and anyone planning an AT hike will benefit greatly from reading about his experience. More importantly, I gained a sense of the emotional and mental expenditure of taking a long trail. One point that I'll do my best to remember is his discussion of how the moment tended to set his outlook: when he was miserable, he felt like every remaining step was going to be an ordeal and when he had a good day, everything left seemed easy. I also admired that was out there doing the hike for himself; "hike your own hike" is a frequent hiker saying, but I haven't read a hiking memoir that brought it home quite like his.
Throughout Grounds' story is an ongoing sense of the support necessary to hike the AT. Deb's assistance and trips to meet him were invaluable. His trail friends encouraged and uplifted him, and it's easy to see how deep bonds can form quickly between thru-hikers. The numerous "trail angels" lent a helping hand, a ride into town, or a cold beer at the end of a long day. And the support of those in hiker-friendly communities contrasted greatly with those who looked down on the disheveled, stinky backpackers.
I wholeheartedly recommend Stepping Wild to outdoor enthusiasts; it's an easy and pleasant read with a lot to offer anyone who dreams of trails.
Thanks to Phill "Mingo" Grounds for sending me a copy of his book in return for an honest review!
Grounds' narrative is direct yet expressive, able to easily put me in his well-worn shoes and describe what he experienced and thought. His informal prose conveys both detail and a sense of the grandeur and challenge of the AT. I also appreciated his no-nonsense personality when confronting people doing stupid things along the trail; etiquette and rules exist both for the safety and consideration of those enjoying the great outdoors and the preservation of the environment. His blunt retired police officer personality doesn't disguise his love for his trail friends and his wife Deb, though!
Stepping Wild offers a treasure trove of information for hikers and backpackers. Grounds is brutally honest about his own mistakes and assumptions, and anyone planning an AT hike will benefit greatly from reading about his experience. More importantly, I gained a sense of the emotional and mental expenditure of taking a long trail. One point that I'll do my best to remember is his discussion of how the moment tended to set his outlook: when he was miserable, he felt like every remaining step was going to be an ordeal and when he had a good day, everything left seemed easy. I also admired that was out there doing the hike for himself; "hike your own hike" is a frequent hiker saying, but I haven't read a hiking memoir that brought it home quite like his.
Throughout Grounds' story is an ongoing sense of the support necessary to hike the AT. Deb's assistance and trips to meet him were invaluable. His trail friends encouraged and uplifted him, and it's easy to see how deep bonds can form quickly between thru-hikers. The numerous "trail angels" lent a helping hand, a ride into town, or a cold beer at the end of a long day. And the support of those in hiker-friendly communities contrasted greatly with those who looked down on the disheveled, stinky backpackers.
I wholeheartedly recommend Stepping Wild to outdoor enthusiasts; it's an easy and pleasant read with a lot to offer anyone who dreams of trails.
Thanks to Phill "Mingo" Grounds for sending me a copy of his book in return for an honest review!
February 22, 2017
I liked the book but as for Mingo, I'm glad I don't know him. Judgmental and downright rude were what came across from reading this.
November 30, 2015
With all the recent popularity in thru-hiking America's great long trails, I highly recommend this book to anyone contemplating undertaking such a task. It provides raw, honest insight into the hardships one faces when exposing themselves to mother nature's elements over miles and months of foot travel. The author frankly admits any mishaps or novice choices that would definitely help anyone else from repeating the same mistakes. He also explains familiar trail lingo and the culture developed around the AT. He describes the terrain of the trail in each state and the towns along the way. For these reasons, I really enjoyed reading the author's personal experience and was sorry that it had to come to an end. It was fun to compare his narrative of certain sections of the trail to my own memories.
Why then do I rate such an engaging book with only 3 stars? The average reader is probably not an outdoor enthusiast or backpacker, and I do not think anyone otherwise would appreciate the read as much. It is neither poetically descriptive of nature's beauty nor is it revealing of some deeper theme. It is simply one man's journey and his physical experience along the Appalachian Trail. If you are looking for something similar to Cheryl Strayed's Wild or the thriller of a Jon Krakauer read, you will be disappointed. However, if you are like me and appreciate a hiker's face value experience, then by all means checkout Stepping Wild by Phil "Mingo" Grounds.
Why then do I rate such an engaging book with only 3 stars? The average reader is probably not an outdoor enthusiast or backpacker, and I do not think anyone otherwise would appreciate the read as much. It is neither poetically descriptive of nature's beauty nor is it revealing of some deeper theme. It is simply one man's journey and his physical experience along the Appalachian Trail. If you are looking for something similar to Cheryl Strayed's Wild or the thriller of a Jon Krakauer read, you will be disappointed. However, if you are like me and appreciate a hiker's face value experience, then by all means checkout Stepping Wild by Phil "Mingo" Grounds.
July 1, 2016
Too much negativity
I've read a lot of books on hiking the AT, but this was the first one I was tempted to not finish. Every AT thru-hiker has to endure a physical beating to complete the hike, but this guy seemed to have a never-ending list of ailments. And his wife came so he could slack-pack in Virginia and much of Vermont and New Hampshire. I can't imagine how bad off he would have been without her help. I have the greatest respect for our veterans, but for this guy to be ex-special forces he had more to whine about than any other author I've read. It also seemed to take next to nothing for him to become annoyed. He set forth this super macho image that he would get in anyone's face and always come within inches of beating them senseless. I was left wishing he'd confront the wrong guy and get the crap beat out of him. To be fair he also did a lot of good deeds for fellow hikers...there was a nice side to him when he wasn't annoyed at someone. All in all, I'm glad I hung in there and finished this book, but if I ran into someone like him on the trail I'd definitely not spend much time with him.
I've read a lot of books on hiking the AT, but this was the first one I was tempted to not finish. Every AT thru-hiker has to endure a physical beating to complete the hike, but this guy seemed to have a never-ending list of ailments. And his wife came so he could slack-pack in Virginia and much of Vermont and New Hampshire. I can't imagine how bad off he would have been without her help. I have the greatest respect for our veterans, but for this guy to be ex-special forces he had more to whine about than any other author I've read. It also seemed to take next to nothing for him to become annoyed. He set forth this super macho image that he would get in anyone's face and always come within inches of beating them senseless. I was left wishing he'd confront the wrong guy and get the crap beat out of him. To be fair he also did a lot of good deeds for fellow hikers...there was a nice side to him when he wasn't annoyed at someone. All in all, I'm glad I hung in there and finished this book, but if I ran into someone like him on the trail I'd definitely not spend much time with him.
September 9, 2015
Stepping wild is an honest memoir of hiking the Appalachian trail. Phil honestly tells about mistakes he made and how he learned from them. Phil gives people thinking of hiking the trail an idea of what to expect, and tells an exciting story to those who have no intention of attempting 2175 mile hike.
I read this book in three days. Hard to put down. One of the best biographical books I have read in a long time.
I read this book in three days. Hard to put down. One of the best biographical books I have read in a long time.
August 3, 2016
Not Great
The story of Mingo's hike was interesting even though it was less than perfectly written. My main objection was the negativity towards others that permeated the entire book. Mingo often stated "Hike your own hike" in his own defense, but seldom bestowed this belief upon others who were hiking a different hike than his. In the simplest of terms: this form of bullying quickly became tiresome!
The story of Mingo's hike was interesting even though it was less than perfectly written. My main objection was the negativity towards others that permeated the entire book. Mingo often stated "Hike your own hike" in his own defense, but seldom bestowed this belief upon others who were hiking a different hike than his. In the simplest of terms: this form of bullying quickly became tiresome!
November 17, 2015
The book was good but I really did not like the author. He seems like the type that people are always having to step between him and somebody else to stop a fight over minor issues...something his wife had to do at least once in the book. He really had an attitude problem. That said the book is worth reading if nothing else but to learn by example of what not to do.
May 28, 2016
Enjoyed the gritty truth about the daily life on the well worn trail. I could almost smell the stale beer and dog shit in the flea-bitten clap shacks along the way. Makes me want to head west to less crap track trails and fewer fistfights over who pissed in the wind.
January 3, 2017
Excellent Read
I thought the pace of t h e book was good. The Chapters went quickly. He does a good job of describing the trail life. There aren't many details about his pack or gear. A good read about 1 mans hike on the AT
I thought the pace of t h e book was good. The Chapters went quickly. He does a good job of describing the trail life. There aren't many details about his pack or gear. A good read about 1 mans hike on the AT
January 16, 2017
Terrible book. Poorly written and after reading about 1/3 of the way I gave up. The authors self bravado and machoism particularly frayed my attention. At times it was almost comical and I actually considered if this book was written as satire or not.
February 10, 2016
While I enjoyed the day-by-day account, I had a hard time understanding how a 49 year old could be so immature.
April 6, 2017
Great book!
Great book! I have never been interested in hiking, and only read this book because I know the author. Many of the experiences he shared reminded me of my time as a US Marine. The homesickness, lack of food, body hurting but pushing through the pain, and especially the feeling of when it ended you miss it no matter how hard it was. I truly enjoyed this book, and thank Phil for sharing his experiences. Thanks for your service as a soldier and public servant. Semper Fi
Great book! I have never been interested in hiking, and only read this book because I know the author. Many of the experiences he shared reminded me of my time as a US Marine. The homesickness, lack of food, body hurting but pushing through the pain, and especially the feeling of when it ended you miss it no matter how hard it was. I truly enjoyed this book, and thank Phil for sharing his experiences. Thanks for your service as a soldier and public servant. Semper Fi
April 10, 2017
Confusing read
Easy to read, but I found the lack of dates confusing as far as providing some temporal context for the trek. It is honestly written, but I found the narration obnoxious and arrogant at times.
Easy to read, but I found the lack of dates confusing as far as providing some temporal context for the trek. It is honestly written, but I found the narration obnoxious and arrogant at times.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews