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Brother Blood on The Appalachian Trail: Thru & Through: A Thru-Hiking Journey
From simple pleasures such as a cold beer at “trail magic,’ to enjoying an evening cup of coffee after a rainy day of hiking, Alec, “Brother Blood,” recounts his Appalachian Trail journey across 14 states from Georgia to Maine. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.
At age 50, Brother Blood boarded the Midnight Train to Georgia, with the goal of immersing himself in Trail culture as a the people, the towns, and iconic places along the way. This is the boots-on-the-ground perspective of that journey, that in the end, restored his faith in humanity.
At age 50, Brother Blood boarded the Midnight Train to Georgia, with the goal of immersing himself in Trail culture as a the people, the towns, and iconic places along the way. This is the boots-on-the-ground perspective of that journey, that in the end, restored his faith in humanity.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2018
51 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 13, 2019
Too much politics, too much booze.
Overall, I liked the authors style, humor and wanted to enjoy the book. I even mostly agreed with the political points the author makes. However, the book gets mired down and the rhythm comes to a halt whenever the author feels the need to talk about how much alcohol they drank and grandstand on political issues (which is quite often.)
The political 'points' are awkward at best and look like they were copied and pasted from a separate notebook into the story. The story takes time to recover from these jumps and when you're finally back to enjoying the story, its time to pontificate on another issue. Great...
Also, I can't quite grasp the disrespect the author showed to basic backpacking concepts like filtering water, checking for ticks and most importantly, hanging a bear bag. I would have hated to have slept near this guy, people like this are what create the 'problem bears' he described so often. What the author describes as a 'culture of fear' I would call 'respect for nature and/or common sense.'
The author clearly supports 'hike your own hike' unless its something he disagrees with, which includes... waking up early, crushing major miles, filtering water, hanging bear bags or having a thought on religion that doesn't fall in line with smug atheism.
Don't look at this as a how-to but a story from a thru-hiker who did hike their own hike. If you want to learn a bit about the AT, try Awol On the Appalachian Trail or Where's the Next Shelter by Gary Sizer.
Overall, I liked the authors style, humor and wanted to enjoy the book. I even mostly agreed with the political points the author makes. However, the book gets mired down and the rhythm comes to a halt whenever the author feels the need to talk about how much alcohol they drank and grandstand on political issues (which is quite often.)
The political 'points' are awkward at best and look like they were copied and pasted from a separate notebook into the story. The story takes time to recover from these jumps and when you're finally back to enjoying the story, its time to pontificate on another issue. Great...
Also, I can't quite grasp the disrespect the author showed to basic backpacking concepts like filtering water, checking for ticks and most importantly, hanging a bear bag. I would have hated to have slept near this guy, people like this are what create the 'problem bears' he described so often. What the author describes as a 'culture of fear' I would call 'respect for nature and/or common sense.'
The author clearly supports 'hike your own hike' unless its something he disagrees with, which includes... waking up early, crushing major miles, filtering water, hanging bear bags or having a thought on religion that doesn't fall in line with smug atheism.
Don't look at this as a how-to but a story from a thru-hiker who did hike their own hike. If you want to learn a bit about the AT, try Awol On the Appalachian Trail or Where's the Next Shelter by Gary Sizer.
November 22, 2018
A round of opinions and spirits on AMC
Fortunately, his strong political opinions didn't diminish the enjoyment of his tale. I agree wholeheartedly with his opinions on the AMC. Though, I do believe his missed an opportunity to sell even more books if he had simply named it "A Drinker 's Guide to the AT". Nonetheless, it's worth the read and he by far has one of the best epilogues I have yet read to concerning one's tale of their long hike.
Fortunately, his strong political opinions didn't diminish the enjoyment of his tale. I agree wholeheartedly with his opinions on the AMC. Though, I do believe his missed an opportunity to sell even more books if he had simply named it "A Drinker 's Guide to the AT". Nonetheless, it's worth the read and he by far has one of the best epilogues I have yet read to concerning one's tale of their long hike.
February 20, 2019
Many trail journal books about how politics are not discussed on the trail, and nearly all go into their politics in depth. This one is no exception. What I liked best are the authors more relaxed approach to hiking. He was smart to not exhaust himself. What I didn't care for is the very alcoholic focus and his contempt for those who are not hiking as he does or who do not think as he does. Put this together with his scofflaw tendencies of building fires even when prohibited, rarely sleeping in shelters even when prohibited, and rarely putting up a bear bag, and this is one fella it would be dangerous to hike with. The book is literate and even interesting in many places, but lacks insight into the author's selfish behavior.
January 13, 2019
Pushed his agenda to much. (Political biased)
Starts out good but becomes very opinionated pushing his personal feeling. I found it interesting that he quotes hike your bike but put down those who don't share his opinion. Writing this way bothered me. I read to become distracted from our society b.s not to be preached to. To bad started nice had to leave the book in middle.😵
Starts out good but becomes very opinionated pushing his personal feeling. I found it interesting that he quotes hike your bike but put down those who don't share his opinion. Writing this way bothered me. I read to become distracted from our society b.s not to be preached to. To bad started nice had to leave the book in middle.😵
September 5, 2021
Politics Mar Everything
This book could have been more enjoyable if the author could have just left his politics at home and concentrated on the Trail. Of the many books I’ve read about the Appalachian Trail , only about three (all Libs) cannot keep their political views to themselves.
This book could have been more enjoyable if the author could have just left his politics at home and concentrated on the Trail. Of the many books I’ve read about the Appalachian Trail , only about three (all Libs) cannot keep their political views to themselves.
August 12, 2019
Read it like he hiked
The book was a series of encounters with alcohol with occasional people referenced, Brother Blood should look around where ever be is because the likely reality is that the same goodness and kindness can be had in every block in America,
The book was a series of encounters with alcohol with occasional people referenced, Brother Blood should look around where ever be is because the likely reality is that the same goodness and kindness can be had in every block in America,
August 27, 2025
I met the author a few years ago while hiking on the AT, so I mostly enjoyed reading about his thru hike. However, this book is in desperate need of proofreading. There are so many typos, missing words, etc. that it is sometimes challenging to read.
June 23, 2018
A 5 star book!
Brother Blood captures the spirit of the Trail. A must read for thru-hikers in my opinion. Old & young& in between. Best new book on AT !!
Brother Blood captures the spirit of the Trail. A must read for thru-hikers in my opinion. Old & young& in between. Best new book on AT !!
July 8, 2018
This is more than a book about the AT. Brother Blood reminds us of the importance of community and an open mindset.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews