“It’s going to be single-file walking up the trail after Bryson’s movie comes out.” I have recently begun to hear thoughts and sentiments to this effect, now that the long-awaited film version of Bill Bryson’s bestselling Appalachian Trail (AT) book, A Walk in the Woods is really being filmed. To be sure, this is a valid concern. After all, when Bryson’s book was released in 1998, the so-called ‘Bryson...

Filmmakers Catherine O’ Shorr and Patrick Nagle, along with technical artist, Melissa Metisko, have shot a ten minute movie of Bill Walker, who is renowned for being possibly the tallest person to ever thru-hike the 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail film, as well as author of the popular Appalachian Trail book, Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail. Obviously the film is not a match for Robert Redford’s upcoming film...

Bill Walker, author of the Skywalker hiking books series on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Camino de Santiago is offering his popular narrative, Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, for free upload on Amazon Kindle, this weekend only, July 19 and...

“You should have seen how many people were at the Kickoff this year,” several people have told me. They are referring to the annual Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Kickoff Party at Lake Morena County State Park. I went in 2009 and it was one of the most special events I have ever had the privilege to attend. Ex-PCT hikers throw this event on behalf of the current year’s crop of thru-hikers, and it is not to be missed. Besides being...

If you asked 100 Appalachian Trail hikers which was the most difficult state on the AT (Appalachian Trail), fifty would probably say Maine and fifty would say New Hampshire. That fits my attitude. In fact when I’m in New Hampshire I’m prone to say it’s the toughest state, and likewise with Maine. Having said that, most AT hikers would state their preference for Maine as being their favorite state. “It is almost 300 miles...