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How the WILD EFFECT Turned Me into a Hiker at 69: An Appalachian Trail Adventure
How would it feel to leave your familiar life behind--even for a little while? It wasn't the wildlife, the fresh air, the scenery, or the promise of a simple life that drew retired editor Jane Congdon into the woods. It was the Wild Effect! Record numbers of women were taking to the trails after reading Cheryl Strayed's best-selling memoir. Like many others, Jane had little hiking experience, yet she spent 17 weeks on the Appalachian Trail, logging in 1,200 miles hiking with partners, alone, and with a glass good-luck charm named Ms. Rabbit. This is her fascinating and humorous account of life in a land of bears, wild pigs, volatile weather, trail town stops, and the personalities she met along the way—and how a long-distance hike changed her perceptions of both Mother Nature and human nature.
- GenresNonfictionTravelMemoir
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2018
331 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Jane Congdon
2 booksJane Congdon grew up in the mountains of West Virginia. After graduating from Concord College (now Concord University), she made a career of words, working as an English teacher and a newspaper reporter before finding her niche as a textbook editor in Cincinnati, Ohio. She retired in 2009.
At age 59, Jane followed Dracula's footsteps through Transylvania, resulting in the memoir It Started with Dracula: The Count, My Mother, and Me (©2011). She then co-authored her brother's memoir, Mr. Joe: Tales from a Haunted Life (©2013). Both books were published by Bettie Youngs Book Publishers and are available from Amazon and other outlets.
At age 69, Jane returned to the mountains as a backpacker. To date she has hiked 1,195 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 8 of its 14 states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Maine.
Jane has spoken at conferences, libraries, book clubs, universities, outdoor clubs, and an art gallery. She is a member of West Virginia Writers and nonfiction judge for the organization’s 2019 writing competition.
She is a member of West Virginia Writers.
At age 59, Jane followed Dracula's footsteps through Transylvania, resulting in the memoir It Started with Dracula: The Count, My Mother, and Me (©2011). She then co-authored her brother's memoir, Mr. Joe: Tales from a Haunted Life (©2013). Both books were published by Bettie Youngs Book Publishers and are available from Amazon and other outlets.
At age 69, Jane returned to the mountains as a backpacker. To date she has hiked 1,195 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 8 of its 14 states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Maine.
Jane has spoken at conferences, libraries, book clubs, universities, outdoor clubs, and an art gallery. She is a member of West Virginia Writers and nonfiction judge for the organization’s 2019 writing competition.
She is a member of West Virginia Writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 13, 2018
Wild effect
I couldn't finish. . It was incredibly boring. There were no interesting stories or even any nice descriptions of the scenery. There was page after page of writing about what she wore, what she ate, her aches and pains , her feet,her bodily functions, how far she walked every day, the temperature, etc. The worse part was her passive aggressive behavior towards her control freak of a walking partner. She admits she is terrified of ALL animals and pretty much everything else. She was traumatized because a mouse chewed up her sweater one night! Its great that she did this at her age but not interesting enough to read about.
I couldn't finish. . It was incredibly boring. There were no interesting stories or even any nice descriptions of the scenery. There was page after page of writing about what she wore, what she ate, her aches and pains , her feet,her bodily functions, how far she walked every day, the temperature, etc. The worse part was her passive aggressive behavior towards her control freak of a walking partner. She admits she is terrified of ALL animals and pretty much everything else. She was traumatized because a mouse chewed up her sweater one night! Its great that she did this at her age but not interesting enough to read about.
July 19, 2018
I've read many accounts of extraordinary adventures and enjoyed them. But unlike those books which make the author seem heroic, this one reveals the struggles of a real person attempting the physical challenge of a lifetime. Jan doesn't sugarcoat her experience. Instead she takes you along for the ride and shares her anxieties, stresses, second guesses, conflicts, and joys. When you are finished, you feel like even if you never get to hike the AT, you have at least been along for the ride.
I kept thinking, "Jane, you are seriously interfering with my night time sleep." I found myself in the "just one more chapter mode" each night (my usual reading time). I would never have expected an account such as this to keep me so engaged. I kept wanting to know what's coming next. What more could one ask of a book.
I kept thinking, "Jane, you are seriously interfering with my night time sleep." I found myself in the "just one more chapter mode" each night (my usual reading time). I would never have expected an account such as this to keep me so engaged. I kept wanting to know what's coming next. What more could one ask of a book.
October 2, 2018
A lesson in HYOH
I really wanted to like this book but the more I read about the abusive relationship that developed with Miles I was angry on behalf of Early Bird and can't help but to think how differently the hike may have been if EB had just followed her own path. I keep cheering EB on thinking she'd dump Miles and use the principle of HYOH and (spoiler alert) when she doesn't I was screaming at my Kindle! Not sure why Jane wanted to write this book unless to serve as a warning to future novice hikers to HYOH....and pack Xanax if you are afraid of your own shadow.
I really wanted to like this book but the more I read about the abusive relationship that developed with Miles I was angry on behalf of Early Bird and can't help but to think how differently the hike may have been if EB had just followed her own path. I keep cheering EB on thinking she'd dump Miles and use the principle of HYOH and (spoiler alert) when she doesn't I was screaming at my Kindle! Not sure why Jane wanted to write this book unless to serve as a warning to future novice hikers to HYOH....and pack Xanax if you are afraid of your own shadow.
December 16, 2018
Though I may be prejudiced (Jane is a book club member and a friend), I absolutely loved this book! Told with humor and honesty it takes you on a hike filled with many eye opening details of preparing and hiking the Appalachian Trail. Pick up a copy and enjoy it for yourself.
Just read it again for book club, it's still just as good as the first time around. Jane is a marvel and she's in our Book Club. Aren't we the lucky ones!!!!
Just read it again for book club, it's still just as good as the first time around. Jane is a marvel and she's in our Book Club. Aren't we the lucky ones!!!!
September 12, 2018
I didn't intend to read Wild Effect but did because the author, Jane Congdon, is a friend and a former editor of mine. I was reluctant because I didn't like Wild, the audacity of the author. But Jane is a friend. I had also seen photos she posted while hiking.
But I loved the book! I felt as though I were hiking with Jane. The glorious scenery, the stumbles, the joy of accomplishments, and even the pain have the reader hiking vicariously. Though her hiking partner's confession early on confused me, the irregularity soon made sense. Thank for the transformative hike, Jane. It touched this reader too.
But I loved the book! I felt as though I were hiking with Jane. The glorious scenery, the stumbles, the joy of accomplishments, and even the pain have the reader hiking vicariously. Though her hiking partner's confession early on confused me, the irregularity soon made sense. Thank for the transformative hike, Jane. It touched this reader too.
March 11, 2019
This has to be my favorite book about the Appalachian Trail I have read so far and I have read many, Maybe its because I am 80 years old and wish I had done this myself. I am also an introvert like Jane so can understand how she felt being picked on by Miles. The more I read the more I disliked her. Jane is a very brave woman and I admire what she achieved. I had a hard time putting this book down.
April 9, 2022
Nope, no-way, not gonna do it.... I am not going to finish.
For full disclosure, I am listening to Buddhist Meditation Music to try and calm myself while writing this review.
I gave this book two stars because I admire the courage the author, Jane (or Early Bird (E.B.)) had to attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail at 69 and then to write about it.
*Sighs*
Where to start on what I didn't like about the book...
1) My pet peeve about books like this (and it is the most minor peeve). When I read a book like this, I like 'meeting' other hikers at the same time as the author. At random intervals Jane would go ''I meet so and so again'' and I would be wracking my brains trying to remember the person, only to realise that this was the first time they were been introduced, and the flow of the book would be ruined.
2) I got the Audible version of the book. The author spends one hour, forty-five minutes talking about her fear of ALL animals and nature in general and her preparations (buying gear, the amount of books (43) that she read etc) and her attempts to get a hiking partner. This could have been done in twenty minutes, as it was VERY repetitious. The last hour and twenty minutes appear to be her detailing her section hikes- I kinda tuned out. That is over three hours about, well, very little really. A third of the book wasted really.
3) Miles - Jane's hiking partner. Many other reviewers have noted the 'passive-aggressive' relationship between Jane and Miles. I would go all out and call it aggressive on Miles' part. Some of the incidents between them include: Jane being afraid to admit to feeling discomfort/pain due to the hiking speed due to how Miles would react. When Miles had to get off trail to attend to her sick mother, she initially didn't tell Jane the real reason why she was leaving- she basically told Jane 'I am leaving because you ruined the experience for me and I am sick of hiking with you.' Jane had several resupply packs already parceled and ready to be posted (with postage paid) and Miles had her husband agree to run to the Post Office to post them- after that, whenever Jane showed any sign of growing a spine, Miles would come out with some form of "After all my husband and I did for you and all the effort we put into resupply!" The fact that Miles refused to accept anything other than 'Yes' or 'No' answers to questions relating to changes in a days routine and would walk away whenever Jane would try to defend her position... I could go on, and on, and on. Miles ruined the book for me.
*Another sigh*
Every book is a learning experience- and I did learn from this book. I did- its just that the stuff that made the book bad for me, outweighed whatever positive there was.
For full disclosure, I am listening to Buddhist Meditation Music to try and calm myself while writing this review.
I gave this book two stars because I admire the courage the author, Jane (or Early Bird (E.B.)) had to attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail at 69 and then to write about it.
*Sighs*
Where to start on what I didn't like about the book...
1) My pet peeve about books like this (and it is the most minor peeve). When I read a book like this, I like 'meeting' other hikers at the same time as the author. At random intervals Jane would go ''I meet so and so again'' and I would be wracking my brains trying to remember the person, only to realise that this was the first time they were been introduced, and the flow of the book would be ruined.
2) I got the Audible version of the book. The author spends one hour, forty-five minutes talking about her fear of ALL animals and nature in general and her preparations (buying gear, the amount of books (43) that she read etc) and her attempts to get a hiking partner. This could have been done in twenty minutes, as it was VERY repetitious. The last hour and twenty minutes appear to be her detailing her section hikes- I kinda tuned out. That is over three hours about, well, very little really. A third of the book wasted really.
3) Miles - Jane's hiking partner. Many other reviewers have noted the 'passive-aggressive' relationship between Jane and Miles. I would go all out and call it aggressive on Miles' part. Some of the incidents between them include: Jane being afraid to admit to feeling discomfort/pain due to the hiking speed due to how Miles would react. When Miles had to get off trail to attend to her sick mother, she initially didn't tell Jane the real reason why she was leaving- she basically told Jane 'I am leaving because you ruined the experience for me and I am sick of hiking with you.' Jane had several resupply packs already parceled and ready to be posted (with postage paid) and Miles had her husband agree to run to the Post Office to post them- after that, whenever Jane showed any sign of growing a spine, Miles would come out with some form of "After all my husband and I did for you and all the effort we put into resupply!" The fact that Miles refused to accept anything other than 'Yes' or 'No' answers to questions relating to changes in a days routine and would walk away whenever Jane would try to defend her position... I could go on, and on, and on. Miles ruined the book for me.
*Another sigh*
Every book is a learning experience- and I did learn from this book. I did- its just that the stuff that made the book bad for me, outweighed whatever positive there was.
April 30, 2022
I can't do it... I admire the author for her courage for attempting the hike, but Miles (the hiking partner) and her relentless meandering at the start of the book and at various parts throughout the book turned me off.
September 24, 2018
Well done.
Having read some of the same books of the AT, hike this one is different, because of discription of the authors emotional interactions with her hiking partners and her self.
It was a great accomplishment , she should be proud. Just thinking that the Camino de Santiago is 500 or 600 miles. depending on the exit point she could have hiked that a couple times back and forth. Good Job. A lot of great adventure .
Having read some of the same books of the AT, hike this one is different, because of discription of the authors emotional interactions with her hiking partners and her self.
It was a great accomplishment , she should be proud. Just thinking that the Camino de Santiago is 500 or 600 miles. depending on the exit point she could have hiked that a couple times back and forth. Good Job. A lot of great adventure .
September 6, 2018
I really found the book to be entertaining and honest. I read every book I can find about walking the Appalachian Trail because it is something I would love to do but know it will never happen. Glad to hear about the struggles, dangers of falling, life style differences of the hikers, and with all of that you still pursue the dream.
January 1, 2019
Impressive hike!
Impressive story of an adventurous 69 year old's hike on the Appalachian Trail. This story is much more than a travel journal. It takes you inside the mind of a hiker.
Impressive story of an adventurous 69 year old's hike on the Appalachian Trail. This story is much more than a travel journal. It takes you inside the mind of a hiker.
February 13, 2019
Well worth it
A great memoir about the adventure on the Appalachian trail. Full of wonderful and not so wonderful experiences, self discovery, just a really great book. Recommended to anyone who wants to plan well for this sort of hiking.
A great memoir about the adventure on the Appalachian trail. Full of wonderful and not so wonderful experiences, self discovery, just a really great book. Recommended to anyone who wants to plan well for this sort of hiking.
November 29, 2018
Engaging
This is a very enjoyable, honest and engaging book. The author did a great job describing their hike and the places they went.
This is a very enjoyable, honest and engaging book. The author did a great job describing their hike and the places they went.
January 4, 2021
My first book of 2021! Also my first thru-hike book. I listened with audible. I enjoyed the story very much as I enjoy short day hikes and knew nothing about these long thru-hikes. It almost makes me want to try...alllllllllmost.
December 21, 2019
Ladies hiking
I chose this book as I enjoy reading stories about the Appalachian Trail. This story, about 69 and 65 year old ladies hiking, struggling, trying to get along, was very interesting and engaging. I could see, hear, feel and at times smell the realities of long distance hiking.
I chose this book as I enjoy reading stories about the Appalachian Trail. This story, about 69 and 65 year old ladies hiking, struggling, trying to get along, was very interesting and engaging. I could see, hear, feel and at times smell the realities of long distance hiking.
August 8, 2021
8/07/21
An awful book. Really stunk. I read it twice to make sure. The chapter quotes really stupid, it was no "adventure" and poorly-written. It was still cringe-worthy awful. A white, educated, damaged, hostile, retired (with apparently cash and credit cards) privileged American female with money, too much time, beauty regimes, and psychological baggage, has a passive-agressive relationship with her female hike mate. Oh, and you can maybe read a tad about the AT; more about her pricey gear, expensive hearing aids, and junk food addictions. She tries to reference Strayed's book "Wild" (which I also read) but fails: there are absolutely no similarities in story, life experiences, or personality. If there were zero stars, I would provide. Save your dinero and buy a meal out.
An awful book. Really stunk. I read it twice to make sure. The chapter quotes really stupid, it was no "adventure" and poorly-written. It was still cringe-worthy awful. A white, educated, damaged, hostile, retired (with apparently cash and credit cards) privileged American female with money, too much time, beauty regimes, and psychological baggage, has a passive-agressive relationship with her female hike mate. Oh, and you can maybe read a tad about the AT; more about her pricey gear, expensive hearing aids, and junk food addictions. She tries to reference Strayed's book "Wild" (which I also read) but fails: there are absolutely no similarities in story, life experiences, or personality. If there were zero stars, I would provide. Save your dinero and buy a meal out.
April 10, 2021
This book was too negative. Too much about Early Bird and Miles tension and incompatibility, Early Birds multiple falls, her bad equipment. I would have definitely traded out the backpack for a lesser weight backpack as it was 5 lbs. And she was buying more clothes and different gear throughout the hike. I couldn't believe the things they would purchase and then just discard after use. Also, Early Bird was continuously losing her trail maps. I was amazed at how many issues she had while she was hiking. I think I would have given up, especially with how much Miles was bugging her all the time. The best part of the book was while she was alone and talking to her rabbit stone, and then finally the epilogue. The epilogue was a positive experience.
July 6, 2019
This was actually a 4.5 star read for me, but 4 was definitely too low. I loved the honest account of an older woman on the trail. It also made me happy that I'm on this side of the adventure looking in! I may do some section hiking, but months on the trail is not for me. Why on earth did I think hiking the AT would be easier???? Well done Jane!
November 28, 2019
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. I didn’t want to put it down. I appreciated the honesty. I have flirted with the idea of hiking the AT but felt It was a dream I was getting too old for. I don’t know if I will ever do a through hike, but this book gave me hope and reminded me the we all “hike our own trail”.
April 21, 2019
I have read 13 Appalachain Trail books. I am a huge fan of all adventure memoirs. These people are so brave. This was okay but not nearly as good as other AT books. What you find while hiking the Appalachian trail is my favorite book on this topic. I wish I was brave enough to do this hike.
July 8, 2019
I loved this book because Jane Congdon writes the truth about the challenges of an older woman on the trail and in life. I also appreciated her view of the introvert. She led me to realize it's okay.
August 4, 2019
A great read!
This book is like listening to a friend talk about their day. I looked forward to curling up in bed at night and reading about the challenges she faced each day. I'm sorry it had to come to an end.
This book is like listening to a friend talk about their day. I looked forward to curling up in bed at night and reading about the challenges she faced each day. I'm sorry it had to come to an end.
July 28, 2019
Great adventure
Congdon captures my heart and soul with her incredible adventure story. She writes so naturally of the physical, and spiritual strength it takes to hike the AT. It is an amazing story told by a remarkable woman.
Congdon captures my heart and soul with her incredible adventure story. She writes so naturally of the physical, and spiritual strength it takes to hike the AT. It is an amazing story told by a remarkable woman.
June 27, 2019
Well written, clear and concise but interesting and engaging, definitely recommend!
July 11, 2019
Hard sell, Hike your own Hike was not practiced in this book. Go read the Wild.
October 22, 2019
Fun
Great book. Loved it all the way through. Was sorry when it ended. Plan on reading more of her books.
Great book. Loved it all the way through. Was sorry when it ended. Plan on reading more of her books.
November 11, 2020
I wanted to like this book more than I did. A 69-year-old woman hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT), when I am 67 and although I know I will never accomplish this, I love to live vicariously through others who do. Plus the author worked as an editor for a publishing house for thirty years so obviously she knows good writing. However, when she used a plot device normally used in fiction - starting with a controversy that happens weeks into the thru-hike, leaving it unresolved, then going back to before the beginning of the hike, to the preparation stages, and continuing in chronological order from there - it really irritated me, to the point where I stopped reading this book and read several others before I went back to see if I really wanted to continue reading this one. It was a hard slog at times but I got to the point where I was determined to finish it.
Other than that one plot misstep, the writing and structure of the book were fine. It was the relationship between Jane (the author) and her mentor/companion on the hike, Miles (trail name), that was the problem. Their personalities clashed from the beginning. Miles was outgoing, impatient, gruff, and authoritarian. Jane was introverted, nonconfrontational, diffident, and stubborn. It was a recipe for disaster and would have come to a head much sooner if Jane hadn't been so reluctant to call Miles out on her unnecessarily strict "rules of the trail." A lot of them didn't have anything to do with trail safety; they were simply Miles' preferred ways to do things or to interact.
After about a month, Miles was called home because her mother's chronic illness had worsened. The two weeks Miles was gone were the only truly pleasant parts of this book. I enjoyed Jane's descriptions of the trail and their various adventures even when Miles was there, but there was always an undercurrent of tension. With Miles gone, Jane's only trail "companion" was a glass coin-like object with a rabbit on it which a friend gave to her as a good luck token, called Ms. Rabbit. Jane would carry on long one-sided conversations with Ms. Rabbit as she hiked the trail at her own speed, which was much slower than the pace Miles preferred.
Interestingly, considering Miles' confrontation with Jane (which Jane put at the beginning of the book but actually happened a couple of weeks into the hike), two weeks after Miles left the trail, Miles' mother was well enough for her to leave again and she was eager to rejoin Jane and continue hiking. I understand that it would have been difficult for Jane to refuse to hike with Miles, considering they had planned the entire hike around the assistance of Miles' husband. He mailed packages to them at various points along the trail and was planning to pick them up at the halfway point of their northbound thru-hike, take them to Maine to scale Mt. Katahdin, and then they were going to finish the hike going southbound.
However, Jane should have had the courage to let Miles know that she was not going to put up with Miles' style of "mentoring" any longer. Jane did rebel in small ways, which made the tension between the two of them even worse. By the time they got to the halfway point (or close to it; they were far behind where they planned to be at that time), both of them had decided they did not want to finish the hike. They did go to Maine and attempt Mt. Katahdin, but physically neither of them was able to do so.
A few months later, Jane went back and did a section hike to fill in a portion of the trail she had missed due to circumstances. Apparently she went back several times for short hikes, but since she was 69 when she began what she hoped would be her thru-hike, she realized that she was unlikely to complete the entire trail, and she certainly would not be able to climb Mt. Katahdin and take a picture next to the sign at the top. She did day hikes on trails near her home and continued to read memoirs written by those who had tried and sometimes completed the Appalachian Trail.
I couldn't quite force myself to give this book four stars. If it had simply been a matter of the clash of personalities between the two women involved, I might have added that extra star. But I found the way the author structured the memoir to be irritating and unnecessary. It would have flowed much more naturally if she had described their problems as they occurred instead of trying to be dramatic at the beginning.
Other than that one plot misstep, the writing and structure of the book were fine. It was the relationship between Jane (the author) and her mentor/companion on the hike, Miles (trail name), that was the problem. Their personalities clashed from the beginning. Miles was outgoing, impatient, gruff, and authoritarian. Jane was introverted, nonconfrontational, diffident, and stubborn. It was a recipe for disaster and would have come to a head much sooner if Jane hadn't been so reluctant to call Miles out on her unnecessarily strict "rules of the trail." A lot of them didn't have anything to do with trail safety; they were simply Miles' preferred ways to do things or to interact.
After about a month, Miles was called home because her mother's chronic illness had worsened. The two weeks Miles was gone were the only truly pleasant parts of this book. I enjoyed Jane's descriptions of the trail and their various adventures even when Miles was there, but there was always an undercurrent of tension. With Miles gone, Jane's only trail "companion" was a glass coin-like object with a rabbit on it which a friend gave to her as a good luck token, called Ms. Rabbit. Jane would carry on long one-sided conversations with Ms. Rabbit as she hiked the trail at her own speed, which was much slower than the pace Miles preferred.
Interestingly, considering Miles' confrontation with Jane (which Jane put at the beginning of the book but actually happened a couple of weeks into the hike), two weeks after Miles left the trail, Miles' mother was well enough for her to leave again and she was eager to rejoin Jane and continue hiking. I understand that it would have been difficult for Jane to refuse to hike with Miles, considering they had planned the entire hike around the assistance of Miles' husband. He mailed packages to them at various points along the trail and was planning to pick them up at the halfway point of their northbound thru-hike, take them to Maine to scale Mt. Katahdin, and then they were going to finish the hike going southbound.
However, Jane should have had the courage to let Miles know that she was not going to put up with Miles' style of "mentoring" any longer. Jane did rebel in small ways, which made the tension between the two of them even worse. By the time they got to the halfway point (or close to it; they were far behind where they planned to be at that time), both of them had decided they did not want to finish the hike. They did go to Maine and attempt Mt. Katahdin, but physically neither of them was able to do so.
A few months later, Jane went back and did a section hike to fill in a portion of the trail she had missed due to circumstances. Apparently she went back several times for short hikes, but since she was 69 when she began what she hoped would be her thru-hike, she realized that she was unlikely to complete the entire trail, and she certainly would not be able to climb Mt. Katahdin and take a picture next to the sign at the top. She did day hikes on trails near her home and continued to read memoirs written by those who had tried and sometimes completed the Appalachian Trail.
I couldn't quite force myself to give this book four stars. If it had simply been a matter of the clash of personalities between the two women involved, I might have added that extra star. But I found the way the author structured the memoir to be irritating and unnecessary. It would have flowed much more naturally if she had described their problems as they occurred instead of trying to be dramatic at the beginning.
February 12, 2021
Really enjoyed this...and I've been on a roll lately, reading lots of different experiences of those walking the various long trails in the US and elsewhere... EB (Jane) gave a real look at what it was like for her as someone who is 69 and on her own...while taking on a hiking partner that didn't make things easier...seems like there were moments when they did ok..and were there for each other but more often than not, lots of unpleasant vibes or comments, silences etc...that had to have made things MUCH more difficult. Lots of ups and downs when anyone takes on this endeavor...and Jane gave a great glimpse into what take place, day in and day out. Thank goodness for the hike itself..nature and others met along the way. A huge accomplishment regardless...and was happy to have picked this one up!
April 11, 2020
I read a lot of thru hiking memoirs. This is one of my favorites. So many of them tend to glamorize the trail. This one does not. Also, it was Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild that inspired the author. Strayed is one of my heroes. In addition to a trail covered in mud, cold, falls, facing our fears, and pain, the author shares with us what she learned about herself as an introvert, which spoke deeply to me. And she also shared with us the processing she did of her childhood experiences and how they affect her responses to others, now. She said she didn’t come to the trail to heal, but I think she healed, anyway. Trails will do that for you, whether you look for it or not. I will remember this book for a long time.
June 23, 2024
I have read so many books about people hiking the AT and the PCT, and this was possibly one of the most annoying. I found myself identifying more with Miles than Early Bird. I know she’s older and inexperienced as a hiker, but she had months to prepare. By the end, I found them both somewhat annoying, and some simple communication would have solved so many of their issues. I’m probably more like Miles in that if I ask “would you like me to move over so you can sit by your brother?” I kind of expect a yes or no. There’s honestly nothing to think about. However, it was a quick read and I was camping and it was already downloaded on my kindle from years ago, so since I had no service, I finished it in a day.
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