The Appalachian Trail Girl's Guide

by Megan Maxwell

After graduating from college and struggling to find direction in adulthood, Megan embarks on a six-month hike along the Appalachian Trail. Having previous backpacking experience, she is over-confident and ready to embrace the beauty of the trail, not anticipating the difficulties that await. From the elation of meeting eccentric individuals and standing on top of mountains to the pains of feeling like giving up in Maine, it is an unexpected adventure.

One common theme during Megan’s hike was that there were far fewer women on the trail than men. Through sharing her experiences, she hopes to encourage and inspire other females to get on the Appalachian Trail and feel confident in their backpacking abilities.

Both a planning guide and a memoir of Megan’s thru-hike, in this book you will find:

·Advice and first-hand knowledge on being a solo, female, long-distance hiker

·Budget-friendly gear and logistical planning

·Mental preparation for the highs and lows of thru-hiking

·The best section hikes and must visit locations for each state

·Stories from Megan’s journey along the trail

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Travel

209 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2014

Reviews

[Trish Barlowe · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this book was just a memoir, I would have given it one star. The first half of the book is great and answers many questions in a concise and organized manner. I read that part very fast and enjoyed the heck out of it. The second part of the book is her very quick account of her hiking experience. I feel like her focus was on the wrong things - I mean, she didn't take a swig of beer or take a hit from a bong without mentioning it. So many other things were skipped over and the main focus was zero days and hostels. I also didn't love her attitude - it wasn't the same positive, humble vibe you get from a lot of trail memoirs. Even the times she tried to convey her appreciation for the trail and the magnitude of what she was doing, it still felt forced and rushed. I was not super encouraged by this book. Overall, I would suggest reading the first half then moving on to a more fleshed out AT memoir.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. The gear part at the beginning was good. Realistic approach to the "what" and the "why" of gear. Some very female descriptions were great. As for the trail part, meh. About what I expect from a college grad inner early 20's. Lots of drinking. Lots of smoking. Some mild drugs. She was no "purist", hiking whatever bit she felt like. Skipping what she didn't. What she lacked in maturity, she makes up for in general experience and knowledge. Not a noteworthy read.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars. Enjoyable read.

Megan "Hashbrown" Maxwell details her experience hiking the Appalachian Trail the summer after she graduates from college. I LOVE reading stories of people walking trails. Maxwell's no-nonsense writing style isn't full of the flowery language and metaphors that accompany other hiking stories, but that's okay. I appreciate her honesty. *potential spoiler?* At the end of the book, Maxwell describes her reaction to her experience. She says that it was not, like we are lead to believe from books like Wild, some amazing life changing experience where you suddenly gain insight into all the mysteries of yourself and the world around you. However, Maxwell also doesn't shy away from the depression and reverse culture shock of returning. I believe the trail did change her, but just not as dramatically as other hikers claim.

The first part of this book gives great advice for potential hikers, detailing what you should pack and the endless pros and cons of various items (down or synthetic sleeping bag? tent or hammock?). Though honestly, you can get this exact same advice for free on her blog (I think some of it may be word for word from the book).

The second half of the book talks about Maxwell's journey on the trail. She does talk about drug and alcohol use, which was fine with me. I don't think that would be my scene were I to hike the trail, but it is a huge part of trail life for some people. The trail is full of teens and young adults who are still experimenting and trying to figure out who they are and their relationship to drugs and alcohol. I appreciate Maxwell's honesty as well as the fact that she doesn't dwell on these things. They are something that enhanced her experience at time, but were not vital to her trip.

All in all, a good work and worth the couple of bucks for the kindle edition. The story is enjoyable if you don't go in expected to read Wild: Part 2.

[Marcella Wigg · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I'm about to leave for my own thru hike in less than two weeks, I thought it'd be helpful to read Megan's book about her Appalachian Trail hike. She starts with gear advice then tells the story of how she completed her hike with $2000 savings to start. This book gave me some useful ideas, e.g. introduced me to the concept of the pee rag. It is pretty clearly self-published, and there is a fair amount of substance use and yellowblazing for hardcore purists, but her insights into the hike are useful and entertaining to read about. Wish she'd included the story behind her trail name!

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should come with a disclaimers. It is not so much a guide to the Appalachian Trail, but a endless narrative about partying, getting high, and drinking on the trail. I learned more about the towns and hostel, than the experience of actually hiking the trail. I also found Maxwell to be quite naive, judgmental, and a bit snobby. If you're a SoBo, don't read this. If you're from the north/New England, don't read this. If you're a day hiker, don't read this. Maxwell makes it abundantly clear that, as a Thru-Hiker, she is better than you.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book on the AT I’ve been looking for! It’s hard to find any books about the AT written by women, for women. I loved the combination of trail info/ experience mixed with the social experience (it is said that the AT is the most social of the big trails). I had read a book about the AT that was more of a soapbox for political or environmental rants. And, while I did agree with that particular author’s sentiment, I wanted more about trail life and the actual experience than just raising my blood pressure. I’m a newb to this whole world and Megan’s narrative gave me a glimpse of what it’s really like.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy-reading trail guide/memoir.

I think I am not the target audience for this one. This is the book for the just out-of-school, still missing college, floundering through early adulthood, party hiker. The author's insights are mostly about the social connections she made on the trail - not so much about the trail or her personal growth. Much more ink is spilled on her and her buddies partying their way slowly down the trail than on anything else.

Also. Despite the much-mentioned English degress, there is a grammatical error or typo on nearly every page. A better copy-editor would not have gone amiss.

[Jilena Rinell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, quick, easy read. This book puts the reader at ease. I’m not one who scares easy but there are some concerns I had as a solo female hiker living in the woods for 6 months. After each chapter is a list of highlights which is very helpful and not just the trails! Shelters/showers and such. Also nice to know there are MANY options for vegetarians on the AT. And a plethora of trail magic! This is not a book I’d recommend if you’re looking for gear help but I didn’t pick it up for that reason so I’m giving it the 5 stars.

[K.N. Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an author looking to do research for a novel. I’ve only hiked small portions of the trail myself so this was a really great “slice of life on the trail” resource.

[Karen Kubiak · Rating 3 out of 5]

The journal of a young woman's AT hike

As should probably be expected of the "memoir" of an early-20-something, this has more than its share of drinking and other recreational pursuits. I wish the author had spent more time sharing her thoughts and learnings about herself and life, and less time documenting the party life. I like the attitude and sass of Megan's blog, and was a little disappointed in the book. Not bad as a first effort, though... and I appreciate the packing lists and "manifesto" parts of it, as hopefully they'll help shorten my learning curve when I make it out on the trail. :)

[Jane M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm somewhat obsessed with reading Appalachian Trail memoirs, and this is neither the best nor worst one. The first section of the book, where Maxwell gives specific advice about planning and gear, would probably be very helpful to someone actively planning a thru-hike, and I plan to reread it if I ever end up doing that. The account of her own hike is mostly perfunctory and not very engaging, but there are a few good stories in there as well as some tips.

Overall, I'd recommend this book if you are a novice backpacker (it's geared toward women, but 90% of her advice is applicable to men as well) planning a long hike, but it doesn't give much for pure entertainment value.

[Elisabeth S. Gilliland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really insane read about walking the Trail

Megan (aka Hashbrown) does a really marvelous job of giving you the feel of being a female hiker. She goes into a good amount of detail on what's gonna bum you and why, and the great and strange joy of getting to know other hikers. Although it sounds like the trail has changed a lot, it also sounds like it hasn't, or at least the people are close.

One of the handiest parts of this guide is the "Best hike" at the end of each state - a great guide to short hikes to make.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this, but you can tell writing isn't Maxwell's forte. It just feels like rambling thoughts. She does come off a bit elitist, and I personally didn't connect with all the drug use. However, this is her story, not mine, and I am glad that she shared it!

[Bess(ie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely done

Perfect blend of informative and entertaining. Still have questions but am now following :) Dr blog in hopes of having them answered. Hope to see more of her adventures in print

[Grace Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, entertaining and an easy read

Enjoyed her insight and appreciated her sharing. Basic functions and questions are answered with wit and knowledge. Thank you for sharing..

[Carrie Lincks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth a review

She may have offered a few good tips but she was more concerned with partying drinking and drugs than hiking. I would be interested in knowing the total amount of miles she skipped.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

So punk rock.

Great, easy read. This book is very informative. The author is down to earth and whimsical. I highly recommend this book to any woman that is planning to backpack.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the information at the beginning. I feel like too much was left out about her hike and the editing was terrible.

[Richie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

A fun read from a woman's perspective. Read it all in one setting because I couldn't put the book down.

[kenny evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it

Good read,extremely informative, and helpful .seems like a must read if you're considering thru hiking...oh and to the author, go buckeyes !

[Anna R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This was a quick enjoyable read. My husband and I are planning a section hike next summer and I am trying to get as much female perspective as possible.