Take the Path of Most Resistance: How the Appalachian Trail Saved Me from the Sixties and Taught Me Everything You Need to Know

by David Hiscoe

Some of Hiscoe’s memories of his 1973 hike from Maine to Georgia are funny, some are wistful and romantic, and some unsettling. Taken together, they give a vivid picture of what the iconic Appalachian Trail adventure was like back when the country was falling apart and hiking alone down the mountainous spine of the United States was a most strange thing to do. But this book is more than a simple wilderness tale from the Nixon era. Through a long career in higher education and corporate life, Hiscoe’s memories kept sneaking back into his consciousness midway through meetings and PowerPoints. He uses these flashbacks to draw consistently fascinating and hilariously cock-eyed parallels between what he saw in the woods and what he found in the offices and classrooms of America. “No one else has ever made a bad case of backwoods giardia so illuminating.” —David G. Allen, Head of the English Department, The Citadel “Sometimes painful, at times euphoric and hilarious, always awash in beauty, Hiscoe’s Alice-in-Wonderland world creates an inspiring read for all walkers on the path to anywhere.” —Laura Waterman, author of Losing the The Story of a Marriage “Emerging from a burgeoning pile of mediocre AT memoirs, Hiscoe’s story of his 1973 trek is that ‘something different’ readers long for. Gritty, hilarious, poignant, and authentic. Don’t pass this up.” —Richard Judy, author of An Appalachian Trail Love Story

Genres: Travel

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2018

Reviews

[Bethann Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed with the Appalachian Trail, I have read many memoirs that tend to fade into a warm and fuzzy blur in my day-dreaming memory. Until now. The author's learnings from the trail as a young man, culled from memorable episodes, are the stuff of chuckles and sighs as he connects trail lessons to later life events and workings of the corporate world.

Beyond the stories, this is a different and more literary type of trail book. Written deliberately, I think, and with care, the author chooses evocative words and clever descriptive phrases that convey a nuanced appreciation of the solo hike through the lens of his memories. Unlike most memoirs, this is truly well-written for the benefit of the reader, not only the gratification of the writer.

Take the Path of Most Resistance is an excellent read for hikers and non-hikers alike. Some of the humor will be missed by the non-hikers.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like thru hiking books especially the AT. This one caught my eye because it was different in that the author hiked north to south from Maine and was marked by the turbulent sixties. His hike was in 1973 as he also learned life lessons on his hike. His stories are also told with dry humor.

[Valeri Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irresistible read

Irresistible read for anyone who needs inspiration to just keep going, on the trail, at work, in life. Great job, David.

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rollicking good time.

I don't use that term much, but is very apt for this great read: rollicking! Hiscoe tells a great, funny, moving, inspiring tale of his 1973 trek on the AT, and he shares the life long lessons he learned

[Kim Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

His or

Intelligently written, humorous, historical, informative. Best Appalachian trail read yet! Thank you David Hiscoe. Keep on hiking and dreaming . LOVED

[Linda Stelmaszyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hiking the AT, great take on it

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent