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The Last Englishman
Alternate cover edition for ASIN B007EDIAY4
For previous cover edition see here
For previous cover edition see here
A real-life adventurer. A gruelling pan-American trek. Will one Englishman dare to face his fears?
Short-listed for Outdoor Book of the Year by The Great Outdoors magazine.
Born traveller Keith Foskett had thousands of miles of thru-hiking experience when he prepared for his toughest challenge yet: a gruelling 2,640-mile hike from Mexico to Canada. In a six-month journey along America’s Pacific Crest Trail, he crossed the arid expanses of California’s deserts, the towering peaks of Oregon’s volcanic landscape, and the dense forests of Washington.
Battling phobias of bears, snakes, critters and camping in the woods after dark, can Foskett find new ways to achieve his ultimate goal when the worst winter in years bears down on the trail?
Shortlisted for The Great Outdoors magazine Outdoor Personality of the Year and Book of the Year multiple times, veteran storyteller Keith Foskett lets you join him for a trek across the greatest long-distance hiking trail on Earth. With witty humour, astute observations, and a delightful cast of characters, you’ll discover a compelling narrative that turns the travelogue formula on its head.
The Last Englishman is an extraordinary travel memoir by an experienced long-distance hiker. If you believe there’s more to life than work, yearn for new horizons and challenges, and believe in overcoming adversity, then you’ll love Keith Foskett’s tale of exploration.
Discover The Last Englishman to embark on a journey of tenacity today!
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2012
546 people are currently reading
1120 people want to read
About the author
Keith Foskett
9 books143 followersKeith Foskett has hiked over 12,000 miles in the last few years and holds a deep respect for the outdoor spaces of this world. His adventures form the basis of much of his writing.
The Journey in Between, an account of his 1,000 mile journey on El Camino de Santiago in Spain.
The Last Englishman, an epic adventure along the 2,640 mile Pacific Crest Trail in the United States.
Balancing on Blue, the second of his big hikes in America follows his continued addiction to thru-hiking on the Appalachian trail.
Travelled Far is a short read about his many adventures, both at home in England, the abroad.
A Thru-Hiking Trilogy is a collection of his first three books.
His latest book called High and Low, was released in March 2018.
He contributes to various outdoor publications and in 2012 was shortlisted for Outdoor Personality of the Year by The Great Outdoors Magazine. His second book - The Last Englishman, was also nominated for Outdoor Book of the Year. He was shortlisted again for two awards in 2015 and his blog (keithfoskett.com) was voted outdoor blog of the year.
Balancing on Blue was also shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year in 2015.
Partial to a decent bottle of Rioja, down sleeping bags and woollen underwear, he was born, and still lives in West Sussex, England.
The Journey in Between, an account of his 1,000 mile journey on El Camino de Santiago in Spain.
The Last Englishman, an epic adventure along the 2,640 mile Pacific Crest Trail in the United States.
Balancing on Blue, the second of his big hikes in America follows his continued addiction to thru-hiking on the Appalachian trail.
Travelled Far is a short read about his many adventures, both at home in England, the abroad.
A Thru-Hiking Trilogy is a collection of his first three books.
His latest book called High and Low, was released in March 2018.
He contributes to various outdoor publications and in 2012 was shortlisted for Outdoor Personality of the Year by The Great Outdoors Magazine. His second book - The Last Englishman, was also nominated for Outdoor Book of the Year. He was shortlisted again for two awards in 2015 and his blog (keithfoskett.com) was voted outdoor blog of the year.
Balancing on Blue was also shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year in 2015.
Partial to a decent bottle of Rioja, down sleeping bags and woollen underwear, he was born, and still lives in West Sussex, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
January 8, 2017
I was really torn between 3 and 4 stars for this book, purely just because of the way it is written.
The tale is fascinating, and very eye opening for someone who hasn't hiked long distance.
However, I has a few issues with it. Firstly, does it really count as a thru-hike if you skip bits out to complete them later? This seems like a bit of a cop out and means the ending of the trek isn't as satisfactory. Secondly, I couldn't get on board with with authors point of view- hating authority, feeling entitled to loads of free things, plus moaning about falling far behind yet not doing much about it? At some points it felt like he wasn't that bothered about the trek.
But all in all, I think the book is worth a read, and it's certainly very interesting and has made me consider doing a real hike (but of course not one on this kind of scale).
The tale is fascinating, and very eye opening for someone who hasn't hiked long distance.
However, I has a few issues with it. Firstly, does it really count as a thru-hike if you skip bits out to complete them later? This seems like a bit of a cop out and means the ending of the trek isn't as satisfactory. Secondly, I couldn't get on board with with authors point of view- hating authority, feeling entitled to loads of free things, plus moaning about falling far behind yet not doing much about it? At some points it felt like he wasn't that bothered about the trek.
But all in all, I think the book is worth a read, and it's certainly very interesting and has made me consider doing a real hike (but of course not one on this kind of scale).
May 11, 2016
This is the best book on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (or hiking in general) that I've read to date. Immensely readable, fun, with enough facts and tips and warnings to please someone like me who is probably too old to hike the PCT but still intends to hit stretches of it next year. Thanks to Mr. Foskett for his fascinating glimpse into the experience.
April 8, 2018
4.5*. I downloaded this book on Kindle Unlimited.
'Human beings have spent the vast majority of their existence in the wild - towns and cities are a relatively recent concept and, although they make us feel secure, we are not meant to be there. They are not our natural surroundings.'
In The Last Englishman, Keith Foskett starts out on the first of his US thru-hikes, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which runs from Mexico to the Canadian border. It was most interesting to read this after Balancing On Blue (about the AT~ Appalachian Trail), because at times this hike seemed almost like a learning process for the AT, in which he made errors he would not repeat in the latter, like taking too many 'zeros' (resting days), not working out exactly how many miles he needed to walk each day, spending too long in the towns for re-supplying, etc. Before he reached Oregon, he realised that the bad weather was going to overtake him.
As well as being an account of the hike, Keith's narrative often wanders off, as his mind must have done each day on the trail, into the right and wrongs of how he wants to live his life, compared with what he feels society expects of him, though he appears to be at peace with this now.
This isn't only an interesting story—I think it should be read by anyone considering embarking on such an adventure, because it tells what it is really like, on a day-to-day basis, the down-sides and difficulties as well as all the good stuff. It's honest, and you don't feel that Keith's motivation is to show himself in a good light, which, of course, makes him more likeable. He wrestles with his fear of snakes and bears (and some of the bear encounters are truly frightening), experiences the danger of serious dehydration, meets many like-minded souls, and talks about food, a lot (I particularly like the account of Nick Levy's unorthodox ways of obtaining it....), the mozzies (always a problem), the physical strain on the body. He talks about how hikers are perceived by the townsfolk when back in civilisation, and the simple joy of walking in the woods.
'One of my most enjoyable experiences was listening to the wind rush through the forest. It struck me several times how simple this phenomenon was. It transported me to an almost primitive era, before technology took over the free time of collective society. No other sounds intruded'
There are quotes from other hikers at the beginning of each chapter (I liked these, a lot), delightful tales of 'trail magic' (the generosity of non-hiking, sometimes anonymous friends of the trail who leave supplies for hikers), accounts of the thru-hiking maestros who break all speed records (fascinating!), the psychological reasons why some drop out half-way, and an excellent section about some of the daft, ancient laws in the US and England that have never been repealed; for instance, in West Virginia, children cannot attend school with their breath smelling of wild onions.
I do consider this book worth of 5* but in the interest of objective reviewing I knocked a half star off because I think it is in need of some trail maps along the way. I didn't feel the need for them in the previous book because I know more about the geography of the eastern US, but in this I sometimes got a bit lost. Also, photographs would raise it to another level. One other thing, which some will consider a petty niggle but it massively gets on my nerves, is the use of the word 'I' when it should be 'me' (as in 'so as usual, he said he'd catch Trooper and I up'). Not that it really matters in the great scheme of things, but hey.
I found that I liked this book more and more as it went on, and read the last 40% in one go, snuggled up in bed and trying to imagine being snuggled up in my sleeping bag in a tent when it was snowing outside, like in Keith and Trooper's valiant push through snowdrifts to the end of the trail. Lastly, there are some stories from other hikers about their life post-PCT; the one by 'Flyboxer' is heartrending. Then there's a list from Keith about the reasons 'why' ~ I loved this. I loved the book, as a whole, and would recommend it even if the closest you will get to hiking the PCT is looking at videos of it on youtube. Now, which one of Keith Foskett's books shall I read next?
'Human beings have spent the vast majority of their existence in the wild - towns and cities are a relatively recent concept and, although they make us feel secure, we are not meant to be there. They are not our natural surroundings.'
In The Last Englishman, Keith Foskett starts out on the first of his US thru-hikes, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which runs from Mexico to the Canadian border. It was most interesting to read this after Balancing On Blue (about the AT~ Appalachian Trail), because at times this hike seemed almost like a learning process for the AT, in which he made errors he would not repeat in the latter, like taking too many 'zeros' (resting days), not working out exactly how many miles he needed to walk each day, spending too long in the towns for re-supplying, etc. Before he reached Oregon, he realised that the bad weather was going to overtake him.
As well as being an account of the hike, Keith's narrative often wanders off, as his mind must have done each day on the trail, into the right and wrongs of how he wants to live his life, compared with what he feels society expects of him, though he appears to be at peace with this now.
This isn't only an interesting story—I think it should be read by anyone considering embarking on such an adventure, because it tells what it is really like, on a day-to-day basis, the down-sides and difficulties as well as all the good stuff. It's honest, and you don't feel that Keith's motivation is to show himself in a good light, which, of course, makes him more likeable. He wrestles with his fear of snakes and bears (and some of the bear encounters are truly frightening), experiences the danger of serious dehydration, meets many like-minded souls, and talks about food, a lot (I particularly like the account of Nick Levy's unorthodox ways of obtaining it....), the mozzies (always a problem), the physical strain on the body. He talks about how hikers are perceived by the townsfolk when back in civilisation, and the simple joy of walking in the woods.
'One of my most enjoyable experiences was listening to the wind rush through the forest. It struck me several times how simple this phenomenon was. It transported me to an almost primitive era, before technology took over the free time of collective society. No other sounds intruded'
There are quotes from other hikers at the beginning of each chapter (I liked these, a lot), delightful tales of 'trail magic' (the generosity of non-hiking, sometimes anonymous friends of the trail who leave supplies for hikers), accounts of the thru-hiking maestros who break all speed records (fascinating!), the psychological reasons why some drop out half-way, and an excellent section about some of the daft, ancient laws in the US and England that have never been repealed; for instance, in West Virginia, children cannot attend school with their breath smelling of wild onions.
I do consider this book worth of 5* but in the interest of objective reviewing I knocked a half star off because I think it is in need of some trail maps along the way. I didn't feel the need for them in the previous book because I know more about the geography of the eastern US, but in this I sometimes got a bit lost. Also, photographs would raise it to another level. One other thing, which some will consider a petty niggle but it massively gets on my nerves, is the use of the word 'I' when it should be 'me' (as in 'so as usual, he said he'd catch Trooper and I up'). Not that it really matters in the great scheme of things, but hey.
I found that I liked this book more and more as it went on, and read the last 40% in one go, snuggled up in bed and trying to imagine being snuggled up in my sleeping bag in a tent when it was snowing outside, like in Keith and Trooper's valiant push through snowdrifts to the end of the trail. Lastly, there are some stories from other hikers about their life post-PCT; the one by 'Flyboxer' is heartrending. Then there's a list from Keith about the reasons 'why' ~ I loved this. I loved the book, as a whole, and would recommend it even if the closest you will get to hiking the PCT is looking at videos of it on youtube. Now, which one of Keith Foskett's books shall I read next?
June 24, 2019
I am amazed by how quickly I got through this book. I found it engaging and interesting- the character meet were interesting and the hiking advice given was top notch. Reading some of the reviews (mainly those three stars and lower), many found the author annoying, humorless or self centered. For a star, British humor may not be for everyone. As for the self centered and annoying- there was a good reason for these. He was on a tight time restraint- he had to finish the hike before winter struck, or else years of planning and a lot of money was going to be wasted. Keep that in mind.
It lost a star because, well, yes, he was on a tight time restraint to be finished before winter hit, but he didn't help himself on that front given the amount of zero days he took (zero days = days when he rested and didn't walk). Also- does road trekking really count towards walking the PCT?
Overall, and interesting read. Had me smiling at times, and kindeled and interest in the PCT.
It lost a star because, well, yes, he was on a tight time restraint to be finished before winter hit, but he didn't help himself on that front given the amount of zero days he took (zero days = days when he rested and didn't walk). Also- does road trekking really count towards walking the PCT?
Overall, and interesting read. Had me smiling at times, and kindeled and interest in the PCT.
September 14, 2012
This book was entitled "The Last Englishman" because he was the last Englishman of the season to leave the PCT. The book is pretty well written. Very few editing errors as in previous ebook versions of these PCT and AT books. I'm not sure I learnt (as he wrote the word) anything new by reading this book, however, if I were actually going to walk the trail, I suppose this book would have come in handy. I enjoyed the English perspective and spelling of words. Every once in a while toward the end of the book you'll find a tome about being alone in the forest and how what that helps teach a human being. He does not lecture and go off on tangents about being a vegetarian or a hiker or a ecologist or a loner, which is good, imho.
August 13, 2016
A very good read about walking the PCT. I enjoyed it so much I have now bought his account of walking the Appalachian trail. His comment that you don't want to get to 80 and have an "oh s***" moment - what did I do with my life?, makes you stop and consider your priorities. Life is short, if you don't do what you want now you might never get to do it.
June 24, 2017
An absolute joy to read. As soon as it finished I went straight to REI's website to price an adventure of my own.
March 17, 2018
Four stars for the information, minus a star for the clumsiness in writing style and eye-rolling egotism of the author.
March 6, 2019
Reading about the PCT has become a "thing" for me because my son is walking the trail this year (2019). To ease my worries, I'm learning as much about it as I can and following this year's hikers on YouTube and Instagram.
To write a book that's so well put together and flows so nicely, and is told in such a great storyline after the fact of a 6-9 month hike is quite a feat. This book tells a great story of the 2014 PCT hike and it reads like an adventurous memoir in story-mode.
I loved hearing about how friendships were created along the way and how hikers would pop in and out of Fozzy's trail experience. I loved reading about the terrain, the beautiful sites and the weather. I didn't care for his feeling of entitlement and expecting to be sponsored or provided free stuff, and I don't agree that he was "living in the wild" ... but whatever. The adventure is undeniable. And the writing was fabulous.
Not spoiling the book, but he also shares insights about after-the-hike, which I found important because thru hikers tend to experience depression after trying to dive back into civilization and the daily grind. Not only did Fozzy talk about his own process after the hike, but he shared the experiences of several of his trail friends. That was so interesting, and a realistic consideration for people planning a through-hike.
Highly recommend this to anyone considering the PCT trail....or to their mom!
To write a book that's so well put together and flows so nicely, and is told in such a great storyline after the fact of a 6-9 month hike is quite a feat. This book tells a great story of the 2014 PCT hike and it reads like an adventurous memoir in story-mode.
I loved hearing about how friendships were created along the way and how hikers would pop in and out of Fozzy's trail experience. I loved reading about the terrain, the beautiful sites and the weather. I didn't care for his feeling of entitlement and expecting to be sponsored or provided free stuff, and I don't agree that he was "living in the wild" ... but whatever. The adventure is undeniable. And the writing was fabulous.
Not spoiling the book, but he also shares insights about after-the-hike, which I found important because thru hikers tend to experience depression after trying to dive back into civilization and the daily grind. Not only did Fozzy talk about his own process after the hike, but he shared the experiences of several of his trail friends. That was so interesting, and a realistic consideration for people planning a through-hike.
Highly recommend this to anyone considering the PCT trail....or to their mom!
March 16, 2020
I usually enjoy books about hiking and other adventures. In my ignorance, the idea of hiking the PCT from Mexico to Canada used to mildly interest me. After reading this book, I'm convinced I would not want to spend so many months continually hiking and camping or dealing with the bad stuff. Reading about someone else's experience doing this hike is enough for me.
I can see hiking a shorter version, but nothing like what the author experienced. The necessity of re-entering civilization to rest, refuel, and buy new gear so frequently would not appeal to me. At the same time, I love the idea of spending time in wilderness, living in and loving the beauties of the land, and experiencing the camaraderie with others who are attempting to tackle the same goal.
I definitely wouldn't do anything like this alone or without a body guard. His encounters with bears, snakes, lack of water, pain, and bad weather are particularly alarming. I would have liked to read more about the beauty and people he encountered and less about the zero days, terrible smells, drinking, and suffering he experienced along the way. I know the honest bad stuff has to be there, but the balance was just a little off for me.
Overall, I enjoy reading books about people who are nothing like me who make choices, have experiences, and have some values I will likely never choose.
I can see hiking a shorter version, but nothing like what the author experienced. The necessity of re-entering civilization to rest, refuel, and buy new gear so frequently would not appeal to me. At the same time, I love the idea of spending time in wilderness, living in and loving the beauties of the land, and experiencing the camaraderie with others who are attempting to tackle the same goal.
I definitely wouldn't do anything like this alone or without a body guard. His encounters with bears, snakes, lack of water, pain, and bad weather are particularly alarming. I would have liked to read more about the beauty and people he encountered and less about the zero days, terrible smells, drinking, and suffering he experienced along the way. I know the honest bad stuff has to be there, but the balance was just a little off for me.
Overall, I enjoy reading books about people who are nothing like me who make choices, have experiences, and have some values I will likely never choose.
May 4, 2018
The book started strong, and despite the amateurish and shallow style, the trail and the people he met kept my interest in the first third. However it became just repetitive and increasingly whiny as the hike progressed, and the author himself came across as less and less likeable than initially portrayed. His casual condescension and disregard for well meant advice, selfishness and a ludicrous sense of entitlement to free stuff, superficial care for others, lack of motivation and discipline that got him one of the last to finish and that he kept finding various excuses for, and the boring obsession with food that he spends no small amount of time to describe, much more than the trail itself! really hard to get thru the latter third of the book. It's not even that helpful as a day by day diary and guide, as he skipped and glossed over stretches at a time.
September 4, 2016
A good guide to what it is like to walk from Mexico to Canada. Frank enough to make me realise that I'm never going to do so, although I would like to hike parts of the route.
Our guide is amiable, as well as honest, which should make this a widely popular account. I found I liked but not loved his account though. There are several instances, like right at the start where he asserts that the moon landings didn't happen, where I find him quite unsympathetic.
Nevertheless, if I was to go on a long distance hike, I would be the better prepared if I take Fozzy's advice. I'd just have to mind what we discussed if I met him.
Our guide is amiable, as well as honest, which should make this a widely popular account. I found I liked but not loved his account though. There are several instances, like right at the start where he asserts that the moon landings didn't happen, where I find him quite unsympathetic.
Nevertheless, if I was to go on a long distance hike, I would be the better prepared if I take Fozzy's advice. I'd just have to mind what we discussed if I met him.
January 7, 2017
One of the more solid accounts of walking the PCT. Most accounts I've read are basic journal accounts kept by hikers. Which his viable and valuable, just not always excellent reading. Keith hits the mark a bit closer for the reader in how he structures his account. One question? - What happened to Pockets? He elaborated on his relationship with this person many times while on the trail and then we hear nothing of him after they parted ways. As a writer he missed the continuity mark on not following this friendship through for the reader—even if that meant he never heard from him again. In other words, there is no closure with this "character" in his narrative.
July 20, 2020
My favorite book on the PCT I’ve read so far. I loved the writing style and the wit with which Fozzie lays out his story, as well as the structure of it (the quotes from fellow thru-hikers at the beginning of each chapter and the way the chapters itself are structured). This book fueled my wanderlust even more and I’m intrigued to be hiking the PCT myself as soon as I can. Will definitely re-read this again, as I had so much fun with it. I can recommend this unconditionally and will do so to everyone asking me for a good book on the PCT. Thanks for a great time following you around on your journey, Fozzie!
July 19, 2021
I really needed a book ike this. I really needed to see images of other places, feel like I was walking and imagine I was not where I am. This did the trick. I think the part that rang truest for me, as the author says, was that the hardest part is coming back and becoming a part of society again - whatever that means. In a parallel universe, magic and life and the wonders of nature exist and it should never be wrong to want to escape to them.
January 16, 2017
Being the nature junkie that I am, this book was right up my alley. It's been a dream for my entire life to hike the PCT, and I believe reading this book is about as close to experiencing the hike without actually doing it. I felt I was right there with the author, sharing his hardships as well as his victories. I love fiction, but every now and then I need a real-life adventure story to ground me to reality, and this was the perfect book for that. Well done, Keith Foskett.
November 2, 2017
A fascinating story on Foskett’s through hike of the Pacific Crest Trail covering some 2,650 miles from the border of Mexico to Canada. As the Last Englishman of the season embarking on the PCT, this book provides great insights into life on the trail and the personalities of the people who, at various times, he hikes alongside. Full of information, suspense and entertainment, this book will have you reaching for your hiking boots to charge out the door, for a much shorter walk, of course.
July 11, 2017
Fozzie writes about his thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. He writes about the good, the bad and the ugly. He made me laugh and also think as he told about his journey. I've read and enjoyed all three books about his adventures. I wonder where he'll go next and look forward to reading more of his adventures.
August 21, 2017
Excellent read
I do not read many books, but as I have a massive passion for adventure, I just had read this book, and what a fantastically brilliant read it was. I believe that this book gives you inspiration to get out there and live your life. Thanks Keith, for taking your time to create a wonderful book.
I do not read many books, but as I have a massive passion for adventure, I just had read this book, and what a fantastically brilliant read it was. I believe that this book gives you inspiration to get out there and live your life. Thanks Keith, for taking your time to create a wonderful book.
March 24, 2018
Wonderful book
I love reading about endurance. Books on folks in Alaska, at Everest, doing long trails. The author takes us amusingly, interestingly, even a bit philosophically, on the journey with him. Never dull. I shivered at the snowy, miserable bits. I laughed often. I was and still am jealous of such ventures. I want to read more of his books!
I love reading about endurance. Books on folks in Alaska, at Everest, doing long trails. The author takes us amusingly, interestingly, even a bit philosophically, on the journey with him. Never dull. I shivered at the snowy, miserable bits. I laughed often. I was and still am jealous of such ventures. I want to read more of his books!
September 23, 2018
Read it!
You’ll be thankful for his stinging wit, strong desire to finish the trail as well as his dedication to trail mates. I enjoyed several laugh out loud moments. My times on the trail, albeit immensely shorter, still ring true to his insights. Trail friends are the best. His description of bear bagging is sooo accurate! Enjoy.
You’ll be thankful for his stinging wit, strong desire to finish the trail as well as his dedication to trail mates. I enjoyed several laugh out loud moments. My times on the trail, albeit immensely shorter, still ring true to his insights. Trail friends are the best. His description of bear bagging is sooo accurate! Enjoy.
March 21, 2017
Great theme and writing. The story goes on very easily and you keep entertained during the reading. It inspires you to get a pack, tent, sleeping bag and hiking poles and imerse yourself in the wilderness. Definately a good read.
February 8, 2017
Highly recommended
I have no idea how you take a 7 month hike and make it into such a wonderful book, but that's what this is.
Highly recommended
I have no idea how you take a 7 month hike and make it into such a wonderful book, but that's what this is.
Highly recommended
January 24, 2019
I loved this one as much as his first. Keith makes you feel as if you're experiencing the walk with him. His sense of humor and drive keep him going and make for a wonderful story.
April 18, 2020
Great book about hiking the PCT, loved it
May 9, 2020
Virus homebound and needing to get outdoors this book was the answer. The author keeps the trail interesting and full of a variety of characters. It's not all about the wilderness.
June 12, 2014
If Oprah had endorsed this book instead of "Wild," perhaps the next big outdoor adventure movie would star Daniel Day Lewis (instead of Reese Witherspoon) as the determined hiker who finds courage, perspective and freedom along the 2669-mile Pacific Crest Trail. "The Last Englishman" is certainly a fuller evocation of trail life than Strayed's book offered. Foskett is no Ian McEwan-level literary genius (few are), and typos uncorrected by the small publishing house now and then annoy like mozzies (mosquitos), but this book captures the daring PCT thru-hike experience with plenty of enriching detail and fellow hikers' quotes and stories. The result is an easy read about a hard-won adventure - and what follows. I especially appreciated that "Fozzie" continues the story into post-PCT contemplation. That last chapter alone (but particularly in context of the preceding 300 pages) reveals enough about the author and his fellow PCT class of 2010 hikers to raise interesting questions for the reader. What accomplishments and choices might truly make our life better, and us better in life? What is the key to approaching individual achievements to foster ongoing fulfillment? What does perseverance teach us about ourselves? Might the satisfying struggle of endeavor be just a more nature-wrapped means of distraction from the same stark end we concocted society's mores and rules to fend off for as long as we can? Or does it bring us closer to evolutional (and salvational) truths about being human? Is it more valorous to choose to be a vagabond or to end up there unwillingly? Does it not matter as long as we can somehow learn when to accept and when to resist? These are all worthy wonderings that Foskett's account of wandering inspires. I don't know the answer any more than him, but I do know that if society crumbles I'll cast my lot with such intrepid outsiders, who earn that name in both the figurative and literal sense.
Standout quotes:
"It sounds basic but I understood, finally, that it doesn't matter how much energy you put into something, the return you want is not guaranteed. It's important to be proactive but, even then, one needs to understand that it's how you react to certain situations that counts. This is sometimes even more important when you decide not to react at all."
"I am more patient now. Few things are worth becoming stressed about, and after a trip of this kind you realise that most situations in life are not as bad as they appear."
"Hiking makes for the strongest bond I know."
"When we look back as an outsider to the life we've left, we can act as an impartial observer and see what we are doing wrong, what we can improve on and what we are doing right. Sometimes we are aware of how we can improve our lives but when we are actually embroiled in them, changes are difficult to make."
"Hiking a long-distance trail is not about giving up six months of your life. It's about having six months to live. The harshest days, when everything seems to be going wrong, when you doubt the whole idea of hiking the PCT, when the rain is flying horizontally into your face and you realise you've run out of stove fuel - these are only ever that, just days. Whenever I was in my sleeping bag, after a brutal few miles where I thought the world was against me, I would relax in the knowledge that tomorrow would be kinder. And really, the bad days rarely come; on the whole, a thru-hike is a heartwarming experience that nurtures the soul and makes you glad to be alive to experience it."
"Time has little meaning out here; I get up when it feels right and stop when I'm tired."
"Barring some ascents where he fell behind a little, I could have not wished for a better companion through the toughest and most extreme conditions I had ever walked through. Upbeat to a fault, he had managed to make me smile even in the direst circumstances."
"Days like today I'm a half step from putting on my pack and wrapping my hands around those trekking poles. I just want to go back to what makes sense to me. Back to where I'm happy. Back to where I'm the best me I've ever known."
"I may not be walking at the moment but life's good when you're planning the next adventure."
"Often I would walk down by the waterfront at night and look at the people eating in the restaurants. It was a life that seemed almost unattainable at this point. My heart ached, wondering what I had become. I would see my peers who were going to work, eating lunch. That too seemed out of my reach. It was as if I had fallen. At the same time, paradoxically, I carried this fire within, this wholly satisfying feeling of accomplishment, knowing that I had completed the PCT."
"When my first paycheck arrived, I cried with relief and a sense of achievement. Now my routine became solid, like hiking the trail, but naturally different in many ways. The PCT had given me the knowledge and confidence to survive, the patience to work towards a goal and the determination to face difficult circumstances."
"I often wonder who invented money, and what idiot thought up the notion of exchanging money for goods and services."
"We seem to be brainwashed into thinking that there is an acceptable way of living our lives, and anyone that moves off that path or makes their own choices against the grain is not normal."
"I suspect that underneath the accusations lies the difficulty many people have in grasping the notion of leaving their everyday lives to go and do something they really want to do."
"I have learned to appreciate every day as it comes and as it is; not too many people can accept that."
Standout quotes:
"It sounds basic but I understood, finally, that it doesn't matter how much energy you put into something, the return you want is not guaranteed. It's important to be proactive but, even then, one needs to understand that it's how you react to certain situations that counts. This is sometimes even more important when you decide not to react at all."
"I am more patient now. Few things are worth becoming stressed about, and after a trip of this kind you realise that most situations in life are not as bad as they appear."
"Hiking makes for the strongest bond I know."
"When we look back as an outsider to the life we've left, we can act as an impartial observer and see what we are doing wrong, what we can improve on and what we are doing right. Sometimes we are aware of how we can improve our lives but when we are actually embroiled in them, changes are difficult to make."
"Hiking a long-distance trail is not about giving up six months of your life. It's about having six months to live. The harshest days, when everything seems to be going wrong, when you doubt the whole idea of hiking the PCT, when the rain is flying horizontally into your face and you realise you've run out of stove fuel - these are only ever that, just days. Whenever I was in my sleeping bag, after a brutal few miles where I thought the world was against me, I would relax in the knowledge that tomorrow would be kinder. And really, the bad days rarely come; on the whole, a thru-hike is a heartwarming experience that nurtures the soul and makes you glad to be alive to experience it."
"Time has little meaning out here; I get up when it feels right and stop when I'm tired."
"Barring some ascents where he fell behind a little, I could have not wished for a better companion through the toughest and most extreme conditions I had ever walked through. Upbeat to a fault, he had managed to make me smile even in the direst circumstances."
"Days like today I'm a half step from putting on my pack and wrapping my hands around those trekking poles. I just want to go back to what makes sense to me. Back to where I'm happy. Back to where I'm the best me I've ever known."
"I may not be walking at the moment but life's good when you're planning the next adventure."
"Often I would walk down by the waterfront at night and look at the people eating in the restaurants. It was a life that seemed almost unattainable at this point. My heart ached, wondering what I had become. I would see my peers who were going to work, eating lunch. That too seemed out of my reach. It was as if I had fallen. At the same time, paradoxically, I carried this fire within, this wholly satisfying feeling of accomplishment, knowing that I had completed the PCT."
"When my first paycheck arrived, I cried with relief and a sense of achievement. Now my routine became solid, like hiking the trail, but naturally different in many ways. The PCT had given me the knowledge and confidence to survive, the patience to work towards a goal and the determination to face difficult circumstances."
"I often wonder who invented money, and what idiot thought up the notion of exchanging money for goods and services."
"We seem to be brainwashed into thinking that there is an acceptable way of living our lives, and anyone that moves off that path or makes their own choices against the grain is not normal."
"I suspect that underneath the accusations lies the difficulty many people have in grasping the notion of leaving their everyday lives to go and do something they really want to do."
"I have learned to appreciate every day as it comes and as it is; not too many people can accept that."
September 3, 2021
My second book on the PCT. I find thru hiking fascinating and this had plenty of interesting stories. 3.5 stars
August 24, 2021
A Must Read for Adventurers!
I have 2 bad knees and a bad back so I know I'll never be a hiker but I LOVE stories like this and this one is exceptional. It's a fairly long read but I wasn't a bit bored! He describes his hike, the friends made along the trail, the trials and the triumphs. The end was different from so many other hiking books in that he, and several of his fellow hikers described how they reacclimated to life after their hiking experience. This is a wonderful book!
I have 2 bad knees and a bad back so I know I'll never be a hiker but I LOVE stories like this and this one is exceptional. It's a fairly long read but I wasn't a bit bored! He describes his hike, the friends made along the trail, the trials and the triumphs. The end was different from so many other hiking books in that he, and several of his fellow hikers described how they reacclimated to life after their hiking experience. This is a wonderful book!
December 6, 2022
This was quite entertaining and well written. It could have been shortened a bit (the topics of hiker hunger and 'clocking miles' were dealt with at length) but overall I enjoyed this hiking memoir. It was well structured, the quotes in the beginning were a nice extra and I liked that Keith did truly hike his hike and not try to be the exemplary thru-hiker (eg. he did flip flop and was relatively slow). He took his time as he saw fit, even if it extended his hike way more than initially planned, which got him into severe weather troubles towards the end.
I would have loved to read a more detailed account of the parts of the trail that he ultimately had to skip (he road walked the last stretch due to heavy snow) but I certainly do not agree with people who rather wish the chroniclers of such hiking adventures had been 'better prepared'. How boring would that be, if everything went according to plan? Gimme a memoir of an entirely blue-eyed hiker over an excel-sheet-worshipper any day. Things going not according to plan were part of the charms of this book.
I also appreciated the quite extensive 'epilogue', which shed some light on Keith's and some of his fellow hiker's experience in the aftermath of the hike. The subsequent list of his hiker friends called by their trail names made me chuckle. As did one reviewer on here calling Fozzie 'Fossil' by mistake, which might be a suggestion to consider ...
I would have loved to read a more detailed account of the parts of the trail that he ultimately had to skip (he road walked the last stretch due to heavy snow) but I certainly do not agree with people who rather wish the chroniclers of such hiking adventures had been 'better prepared'. How boring would that be, if everything went according to plan? Gimme a memoir of an entirely blue-eyed hiker over an excel-sheet-worshipper any day. Things going not according to plan were part of the charms of this book.
I also appreciated the quite extensive 'epilogue', which shed some light on Keith's and some of his fellow hiker's experience in the aftermath of the hike. The subsequent list of his hiker friends called by their trail names made me chuckle. As did one reviewer on here calling Fozzie 'Fossil' by mistake, which might be a suggestion to consider ...
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