My Reading List for Thru-Hiking

Over the past couple of years I have read a number of books in an attempt to learn more about the Appalachian Trail and the thru-hiking experience.  I have compiled a list of those books in case you are interested in doing some reading too.  If I have forgotten any or read new ones, I will certainly add them later.  The brief descriptions are my own recollections and summaries.  The books are listed from my most current read to the first one I read two years ago.  Maybe I will reread some titles myself!


Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Pharr Davis

I am currently reading this and I love it.  Odyssa hiked the trail as a single woman and the book focuses upon her personal experiences.  I enjoy hearing about her emotional struggles and her interactions with others on the trail.  Very little history,  lots of narrative.


A Journey North: One Woman's Story of Hiking the Trail by Adrienne Hall

This was written by a woman who hiked the whole trail with another guy.  It began as a date, as she described it, and followed their growth as a couple.  The writing alternated between narrative and informative research.  I liked the balance between the narrative and the informative passages.  This book was a great way to think about the many different aspects that effect the Appalachian Trail such as science, politics, history, and legends.  


Walking the Appalachian Trail by Larry Luxenberg

This book was composed of many brief accounts of many different hikers.  There was also quite a bit of history.  I did not find it to be the most engaging but did enjoy all the tidbits of so many people's experiences.


Trail Tested: A Thru-hiker's guide to ultralight Hiking and Backpacking by Justin Lichter

This book was all about gear for the trail and I found it to be extremely useful.  The author has hiked over 35,000 miles and offered great advice.  He discussed pros and cons of gear in a well organized fashion.  I am not a gear person but have read this book multiple times and keep referring to it as I make my purchases.  I highly recommend it if you are planning a long distance hike.


Backpacker Magazine's Complete Guide to Outdoor Gear Maintenance and Repair by Kristin Hostetter

The title describes this book perfectly.  I intend to reread this before I head out and leave it with someone whom I could call to have them look things up for me.  It had clear pictures and descriptions to help repair gear.  This was also well organized, offering pros and cons for gear. 


Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

I read this two years ago and am struggling to remember the content.  I know I enjoyed  the narrative of her experience.  She began the hike very under informed but went for it anyway.  I am curious to see the movie that is coming out soon.


A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

This was the book that has been referenced anytime I mentioned hiking the Appalachian Trail.  It alternated between narrative and history chapters.  I found the history bits to be lengthy at times.  This was not my favorite book for the topic, but it is very popular.


Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker's Companion 2012 Edited by Robert Sylvester

I have not read this entire book though I have heard it is extremely useful to those hiking.  It contained so much information including miles between shelters, water locations, distances to towns, and much more.


Appalachian Trials by Zach Davis

This was the first book I read about the Appalachian Trail.  It focused on the psychological and emotional challenges that will be faced on the trail.  I would highly recommend this to anyone about to go through a life changing experience by choice.



Let me know if you have any recommendations!

A Little Perspective

A few days ago I told a friend of mine about my goal to thru-hike the Appalachian Trial.  As I described my plans, I realized how privileged and crazy I must have sounded to him.  This wasn’t the first time I had felt this way though the feelings were much more intense than they had been in the past.  

When I was in the Peace Corps, one of the elders on the island asked me what I was going to do after I completed my service.  When I described my plans to thru-hike he asked a number of questions.  What was so important about it?  Would I make money?  Why would I want to do that?  What was the point?  At the time I remember thinking that he didn’t understand the drive that Americans have in regards to making goals and working towards them.  Future planning was not part of his culture.  He lived in a place where people didn’t focus on the future because they were busy surviving the day and the week.  Their lives revolved around securing food and taking care of  daily needs.  My impression was that people trusted God for the future and didn’t plan much further than tomorrow. 

My friend had fled his home country for fear of losing his life.  He has witnessed horrific things that I cringe to even imagine.  He would do anything for the right to work in America and here I was, working a job just so I could earn money to buy gear to go live and walk in the woods by choice.  

My plan to hike felt so selfish and frivolous.  What a privilege it was to have the opportunity to think about the future, to be able to take six months to travel and not work.   I was reminded just how lucky I have been in my life.  Times weren’t always easy, but I have always had a roof over my head, food, school, and the encouragement to dream.

A little perspective is both refreshing and heartbreaking.

Black Friday

I have to say that I don’t like shopping.  The idea of buying everything I need for the trail drives me a little crazy.  In addition to not enjoying shopping I am a bargain shopper.  I love Goodwill and yard sales. 

That being said I’ve been reading emails from L.L. Bean, EMS, and REI for months now, checking sales to see where I can get the most for my money.

How does this translate to getting gear for my hike?

Today I went out for Black Friday.  Did I get up super early and stand in line?  Nope!  I figured that most people wouldn’t be going after camping gear and I would be able to enjoy myself at EMS.  Much to my delight there was no traffic around the mall.  In fact it seemed like there were fewer cars than usual.  I didn’t have to fight for a parking spot either; the one closest to the door seemed to be waiting for me.

After wandering around for a while and checking to see what deals there were I bought one thing- a new down coat at 40% off!  I now have a coat and boots for the trail.  Hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll have a pack too.

The Next Step- Starting the blog

The time has come to begin my blog for thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail.  I have mixed feelings about the blog.  I am very excited to be embarking on an adventurous journey for numerous reasons (which I will share later) and I am a bit leery of recording my thoughts in public.  First of all, there are so many blogs already in existence about people’s journeys on the trail- does the world really need another?  Secondly, it means I have to commit to writing about the process on a regular basis, which I was not very successful at doing while in the Peace Corps.  Lastly, I want my writings to be true and accurate to my experience while knowing that future employers, past students, and others probably should not know everything.  Hopefully I’ll find the right balance between honesty and self-censorship.

When did I decide to hike the trail?  Probably two years ago.  I was in the Peace Corps and had discussed the idea with a few of the other trainees in my group.  I think I shared my idea over lunch, suggesting that I would like to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail someday.  Much to my surprise others shared the same sentiment!  We talked about the possibilities of going together, as a group of RPCVs, after completing our service.

While living on my small island my mother asked what I would like for Christmas.  Among other things, I asked for “Appalachian Trials” and “Appalachian Trail: Thru-Hiker’s Companion.”  She was surprised by my request.  After all, I was currently a Peace Corps Volunteer, how many adventures was I planning to have?  She also mentioned that hiking the AT had been a dream for one of my grandfathers.  I think it was ordering the books that solidified the idea in my head.

Reading “Appalachian Trials” by Zach Davis was amusing.  Most of the advice for surviving the trail psychologically was the same advice I had been given for becoming a PCV.  I was currently living a psychologically straining life.  If I made it through Peace Corps I was pretty sure I could mentally handle hiking the AT.  I passed the book along to fellow PCVs who were interested.  By January 2014 three of us had committed to hiking the trail.

Zach Davis recommends making three lists in regards to the trail:

- I am thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail because…

- When I successfully thru-hike the Appalachian Trail I will…

- If I give up on the Appalachian Trail I will…

These were similar questions I asked myself before joining Peace Corps.  The second two have answers that are very similar to my Peace Corps answers.  Here are my thoughts for the first question.

I am thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail because…

- I will be able to spend an extended amount of time outdoors experiencing and living in nature

- I value living life at a slower pace and being self-sufficient

- It will allow me to travel though parts of America that I have never seen before

- Now is a good time in my life make the hike

- I enjoy challenging myself

- I want to raise money and awareness for a great organization in Maine