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The Proving Grounds: True Cost of Hiking the Appalachian Trail
Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2016 has changed. Come along with Brawny as she details these vast changes in her second successful thru hike. Still a bonafide ultralight, minimalist, she details how she lived on $100 a week while enjoying America's favorite long distance hiking trail. Filled with hilarious stories, insight and drama, this is Wellman's best work to date.
Included you'll find a Glossary to help the uninitiated understand hiker jargon. Plus, find complete instructions on how to make her signature, prototype, ultralight Tent. There are food lists, cold food combinations for going stove-less and the tried and true method on how to resupply. Learn what a PCT resupply is, how to navigate difficult routes and what to look for if you suspect you've caught Lyme Desease. Billed as the Best Appalachain Trail book ever to hit the market. A must read for anyone planning to hike any long distance hike.
Her chapter on gear will bring you up to date on innovations found in the last fourteen years. She also shares her Ridgerunner perspective-acquired in Maine's Hundred Mile Wilderness- and fully detailed in Of Moose and Men-Ridgerunning in Maine's Hundred Mile Wilderness.
Author, gear innovator and adventurer, Wellman's first book 'My Journey to Freedom and Ultralight Backpacking", is a favorite among ultralighters.
Included you'll find a Glossary to help the uninitiated understand hiker jargon. Plus, find complete instructions on how to make her signature, prototype, ultralight Tent. There are food lists, cold food combinations for going stove-less and the tried and true method on how to resupply. Learn what a PCT resupply is, how to navigate difficult routes and what to look for if you suspect you've caught Lyme Desease. Billed as the Best Appalachain Trail book ever to hit the market. A must read for anyone planning to hike any long distance hike.
Her chapter on gear will bring you up to date on innovations found in the last fourteen years. She also shares her Ridgerunner perspective-acquired in Maine's Hundred Mile Wilderness- and fully detailed in Of Moose and Men-Ridgerunning in Maine's Hundred Mile Wilderness.
Author, gear innovator and adventurer, Wellman's first book 'My Journey to Freedom and Ultralight Backpacking", is a favorite among ultralighters.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 21, 2019
I'm giving the book two stars instead of one because it is hard to dislike a book about a journey on the AT, however, this author tried her best to make it possible. Never one to care on which side anyone stands politically, I greatly dislike when the viewpoints are loaded with seething comments, snap judgments, and general hate towards anyone not sharing their own views. Criticisms of minimum wage workers even though they seemed to be doing their best to help her while just trying to make a living, equating hippies with space cadets (as in airheads), and finally, a comment that basically lements that the world hates anyone religious (really? I don't ) were enough to make me return the book at only 33% read. With a general tone of dislike of the trail itself, why did she even do the first hike let alone a second one? Maybe to sell the book? She does comment that she is set for early retirement by doing so. I never wrote a bad review before. I have a new love for Kindle unlimited because: I'm glad I didn't buy this book.
June 1, 2018
Proving my LOVE of all books thru-hiking related, even this thru-hikers tale from a judgy and unlikeable woman was a given. Two stars because I had to balance her horribleness with the fact that I LOVE reading about thru-hikes on the AT.
August 29, 2017
Interesting perspective
Wasnt sure I would enjoy a book about the AT which focused on a womans personal emotional struggle with the social aspects of an AT thru hiker. Seemed a little whiney and condescending at first but as she progressed her attitude and emotional growth progressed in a more positive direction. If this was her goal for the hike and the book, then I think she succeeded. Not a book to get any substantial technical info concerning the trail but helpful understanding the dynamics of it. Frustrated with the misuse of words, the incorrect town and trail names, and especially the slam concerning the rescue and recovery of Geraldine Larghey, aka inchworm. The Maine Warden Service and all the associated search and rescue organizations affiliated with that case and the multitude of AT cases each year deserve our thanks and appreciation. Maine is no joke, dont come into Maine relying on electronics to get you out of trouble. A compass and the skills to use it in conjunction with a map should be a prerequisite before doing any hiking. These skills should be the first thing you learn before this hike and I am disappointed that a former ridgerunner would think that the unfortunate demise of Mrs. Larghey was the fault of a failed rescue. That being said, the book did hold my interest, and toward the the last third of the book, the writer expanded her thoughts more efficiently for her reader. I will probably read her ridgerunner book because it might be a fairly interesting collection of stories. This writer can only get better.
Wasnt sure I would enjoy a book about the AT which focused on a womans personal emotional struggle with the social aspects of an AT thru hiker. Seemed a little whiney and condescending at first but as she progressed her attitude and emotional growth progressed in a more positive direction. If this was her goal for the hike and the book, then I think she succeeded. Not a book to get any substantial technical info concerning the trail but helpful understanding the dynamics of it. Frustrated with the misuse of words, the incorrect town and trail names, and especially the slam concerning the rescue and recovery of Geraldine Larghey, aka inchworm. The Maine Warden Service and all the associated search and rescue organizations affiliated with that case and the multitude of AT cases each year deserve our thanks and appreciation. Maine is no joke, dont come into Maine relying on electronics to get you out of trouble. A compass and the skills to use it in conjunction with a map should be a prerequisite before doing any hiking. These skills should be the first thing you learn before this hike and I am disappointed that a former ridgerunner would think that the unfortunate demise of Mrs. Larghey was the fault of a failed rescue. That being said, the book did hold my interest, and toward the the last third of the book, the writer expanded her thoughts more efficiently for her reader. I will probably read her ridgerunner book because it might be a fairly interesting collection of stories. This writer can only get better.
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December 4, 2020Not the last Carol Wellman book I'll read
I like how this book included more pictures to creating the ultra light gear patterns she includes, though there were less patterns than her first book. Updates to her first book as well, since many years and experience passed since writing the first one. One book doesn't replace the other in valuable resources. This is the journey of her second thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. I appreciate the info she shared about budget and resupply points she used and how she traveled without breaking the bank or her back in ultralight fashion. She's also inspiring me to take my writing further. Thanks Brawny.
I like how this book included more pictures to creating the ultra light gear patterns she includes, though there were less patterns than her first book. Updates to her first book as well, since many years and experience passed since writing the first one. One book doesn't replace the other in valuable resources. This is the journey of her second thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. I appreciate the info she shared about budget and resupply points she used and how she traveled without breaking the bank or her back in ultralight fashion. She's also inspiring me to take my writing further. Thanks Brawny.
May 1, 2019
Interesting to see themes developing in the books that the authors seem unaware of, like Carol's complaints about not finding companions to hike with and saying repeatedly that she hikes solo. But over and over and talks about wanting to be more a part of the hiking community. I hope she finds the friends she is looking for. Very engrossing book.
January 4, 2019
Negative
Book really turned me off to the hiking, just seems like while book was negative and a downer, sorry imho
Book really turned me off to the hiking, just seems like while book was negative and a downer, sorry imho
April 3, 2020
Awesome book Thank You! It's taken me a while but I'm lite now! Your advice is indispensable. I'm ready. Keep writing and keep hiking.
February 11, 2017
AT thru-hiker times 2
Because Brawny was hiking the AT for the second time, she seemed to think she knew it all. She was very judgmental of thru-hikers, section-hikers and day-hikers. She didn't seem like a very happy person at all.
Because Brawny was hiking the AT for the second time, she seemed to think she knew it all. She was very judgmental of thru-hikers, section-hikers and day-hikers. She didn't seem like a very happy person at all.
December 19, 2018
Great book
I have read several AT trail books. This was very informative. I hope to one day hike the trail and have been trying to get some very different perspectives.
I have read several AT trail books. This was very informative. I hope to one day hike the trail and have been trying to get some very different perspectives.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews