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Katahdin: Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Reckless Abandon
Haven't you ever wanted to toss your world into the air, throw caution to the wind, and step outside your comfort zone for an extended period of time? Completing the nearly 2,200-mile-long hike of the Appalachian Trail was not on Kevin Newsome's radar, much less his bucket list, but at age 65, he put his business on hold, kissed his wife goodbye, and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. What could go wrong?
His 171 day journey from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt Katahdin, Maine was a lesson in patience, perseverance, grit, and determination. He weathered four hurricanes, mosquitoes, ticks, bears, and snakes, but mostly mud, rain, and the hilarity of his predicament with humor, common sense, and a will to keep moving the ball forward, no matter what.
Life on "the trail" will teach you humility and confidence building as well as show you the compassionate side of humanity. This book is a series of short stories, stitched together with a journal of life in the woods. Oprah won't be calling, nor will Spielberg, but anyone who fantasizes about what it's like to "get away from it all" will happily be glued to this book to the bitter end.
His 171 day journey from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt Katahdin, Maine was a lesson in patience, perseverance, grit, and determination. He weathered four hurricanes, mosquitoes, ticks, bears, and snakes, but mostly mud, rain, and the hilarity of his predicament with humor, common sense, and a will to keep moving the ball forward, no matter what.
Life on "the trail" will teach you humility and confidence building as well as show you the compassionate side of humanity. This book is a series of short stories, stitched together with a journal of life in the woods. Oprah won't be calling, nor will Spielberg, but anyone who fantasizes about what it's like to "get away from it all" will happily be glued to this book to the bitter end.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2022
51 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 16, 2022
Overall: buy this book if you are a hiker, want to hike or just like to read about an adventure. If you like the writings of the likes of Jon Krakauer in Into Thin Air or Into the Wild you will enjoy this book.
Now... for the long winded review I can't help but write.
Of course this review is a bit biased since Kevin is a friend but I 100000% swear that I'd have written this review regardless if I knew Kevin or not. Knowing Kevin just gave me more insight into the human writing and walking the trail.
While Kevin was always looking to better himself in his trade, there was a whole new light to him when he decided to conquer The Trail. The Trail being the Appalachian Trail. My Dad had always talked about doing it with his best friend but sadly it was one of the things he never got to accomplish before his death (they did do parts though). Needless to say, I was rooting for Kevin from the beginning.
I followed along with Kevin from before day one, excited to watch a friend conquer something that is so unfathomable to most of us. I turned on notifications (sorry Kevin, I was a creeper) so that I didn't miss an update and his You Tube channel was and still is one of the very few I subscribe to. Every time he posted I was laughing alongside him as Kevin has a way with words and of thinking that even makes a shitty day (even literally when posting about bidets) seem amusing.
So... all of this long winded crap to say - I was invested. BUT because I was following along so closely I assumed that the book would be somewhat of a 'been there, done that' experience since I assumed it was just going to all be rehashed. I was excited to read it but I was concerned that I wouldn't be as invested. I was so very wrong.
While some of the same topics were covered, the stories still seemed fresh and I was engaged right from the opening page. I tore through the book within a few days despite having end-of-year stuff to do and not as much time as I wanted to dedicate to it! I even read through many meals... which I may not recommend during the whole "how do you poop in the woods" section LOL.
This book is an engaging, smart and hilarious journey along with Kevin. I'm not a hiker at all and I still enjoyed it and I immediately bought it for friends who actually do the hiking thing.
After reading the book make sure to go back and watch his You Tube videos. Some are just so much funnier than he portrays in his book.
Now... for the long winded review I can't help but write.
Of course this review is a bit biased since Kevin is a friend but I 100000% swear that I'd have written this review regardless if I knew Kevin or not. Knowing Kevin just gave me more insight into the human writing and walking the trail.
While Kevin was always looking to better himself in his trade, there was a whole new light to him when he decided to conquer The Trail. The Trail being the Appalachian Trail. My Dad had always talked about doing it with his best friend but sadly it was one of the things he never got to accomplish before his death (they did do parts though). Needless to say, I was rooting for Kevin from the beginning.
I followed along with Kevin from before day one, excited to watch a friend conquer something that is so unfathomable to most of us. I turned on notifications (sorry Kevin, I was a creeper) so that I didn't miss an update and his You Tube channel was and still is one of the very few I subscribe to. Every time he posted I was laughing alongside him as Kevin has a way with words and of thinking that even makes a shitty day (even literally when posting about bidets) seem amusing.
So... all of this long winded crap to say - I was invested. BUT because I was following along so closely I assumed that the book would be somewhat of a 'been there, done that' experience since I assumed it was just going to all be rehashed. I was excited to read it but I was concerned that I wouldn't be as invested. I was so very wrong.
While some of the same topics were covered, the stories still seemed fresh and I was engaged right from the opening page. I tore through the book within a few days despite having end-of-year stuff to do and not as much time as I wanted to dedicate to it! I even read through many meals... which I may not recommend during the whole "how do you poop in the woods" section LOL.
This book is an engaging, smart and hilarious journey along with Kevin. I'm not a hiker at all and I still enjoyed it and I immediately bought it for friends who actually do the hiking thing.
After reading the book make sure to go back and watch his You Tube videos. Some are just so much funnier than he portrays in his book.
March 5, 2023
What an adventure
Thanks for letting the rest of us live vicariously through your story Kevin. I’ve section hiked in multiple states but have never spent a night on the trail. I too have thought about hiking the entire AT at some point, but I can say after reading what it took to do so I really don’t know that I’m up for that challenge. This is the best of all the books I’ve read in the AT. I loved the humorous stories along the way and how you overcame the adversities of the trail.
Thanks for letting the rest of us live vicariously through your story Kevin. I’ve section hiked in multiple states but have never spent a night on the trail. I too have thought about hiking the entire AT at some point, but I can say after reading what it took to do so I really don’t know that I’m up for that challenge. This is the best of all the books I’ve read in the AT. I loved the humorous stories along the way and how you overcame the adversities of the trail.
July 30, 2023
I’ve read several AT books this year and I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s style. Some occasional snark and some well placed run on sentences made for a read that has some reality attached. He definitely had me laughing from time to time and seems like a fella that would be fun to share a shelter with… even if he doesn’t actually enjoy staying in shelters ; )
July 22, 2023
great read
I found this book to be one of the best I have read on the trail. I felt like I was there right along with him seeing the beauty and realizing the danger that is part of it.
I found this book to be one of the best I have read on the trail. I felt like I was there right along with him seeing the beauty and realizing the danger that is part of it.
March 27, 2024
Can't Imagin anything less than 5 stars.
I was never bored or tempted to skip chapters.
Down to earth and I'm sure a very interesting person to know.
Wish you were doing the Pacific Trail!
Nice to know you, Reckless Abandon!
JR Dallas
I was never bored or tempted to skip chapters.
Down to earth and I'm sure a very interesting person to know.
Wish you were doing the Pacific Trail!
Nice to know you, Reckless Abandon!
JR Dallas
March 31, 2024
As someone who loves living vicariously through others, I read a lot of thru-hiking books. This was one of my faves. It is lighthearted, funny and informative all in one book! Highly recommend if you like personal adventure books.
February 24, 2023
Good book
Good stories about Kevin's AT hike. I wish book was a bit longer and he went into more description of his trek. One obvious correction that should be rectified is his story on how he crosses the Delaware River from VT to NH. It's the Connecticut River, not the Delaware up there.
Good stories about Kevin's AT hike. I wish book was a bit longer and he went into more description of his trek. One obvious correction that should be rectified is his story on how he crosses the Delaware River from VT to NH. It's the Connecticut River, not the Delaware up there.
January 14, 2024
I have hiked the Appalachian Trail vicariously many times, and this trail memoir is one of my favorites. Newsome's story is well-balanced, with a bit of humor, a bit of pathos, a little advice for those who plan to hike and a lot of detail for those, like me, who will only experience the trail through the printed word.
October 9, 2023
Inspiring and educational
It was an entertaining read which was a good mix of trail stories with a good amount of insights / information about the logistics and planning required to traverse the AT.
It was an entertaining read which was a good mix of trail stories with a good amount of insights / information about the logistics and planning required to traverse the AT.
Read
January 18, 2023I have read scores of these AT books. I didn't find this one very impressive. The parts that I wanted details on, the author just skipped.
March 27, 2023
Great book about Kevin's adventures on the AT. I really enjoyed it.
April 19, 2023
Highly recommend
Kept me turning the pages to see what was around the next bend. What a wonderful feeling of accomplishment it must be.
Kept me turning the pages to see what was around the next bend. What a wonderful feeling of accomplishment it must be.
July 6, 2023
This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read on the Appalachian Trail. Once you get started you can't put this one down. You feel like you are taking each step with Reckless Abandon!
November 21, 2023
Haven walked the AT in 2023, I appreciated the detail and it brought back lots of memories.
June 14, 2024
While it seemed like it was written from a series of dictaphone recordings taken while on the trail (e.g., a basic trail diary), and there is very little introspection or description of physical surroundings, I found myself speed-reading this account with enough interest to keep turning the pages, as it’s quite a feat to cover 2,193.1 miles at age 66 through the terrain that the AT offers. Nothing at all like Wild by Cheryl Strayed, which was the polar opposite in terms of incorporating themes of emotional healing from childhood and loss into its account and imparting a lot more about the physicality required to master the terrain, even with trivia and fellow hiker encounter descriptions sprinkled throughout. Just not a lot of depth.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews