Blog

Amazon Travel Books Recommends ‘Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail’

Posted by on August 23, 2013 in Amazon Recommends Skywalker book, Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail | 0 comments

Travel Books                 Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian trail Bill Walker, Jerry Gramckow, Audra George   Price: $4.95             Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail Bill Walker   Price: $4.95 Bill Walker is the...

read more

Heather Anderson–a.k.a. ‘Anish’ Completes Gutsiest Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hike Ever

Posted by on August 20, 2013 in Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail | 2 comments

Below are the words of Heather Anderson–PCT Class of 2013. Hopefully you have read about her courageous journey up the 2,663 mile Pacific Crest Trail this year. It may be one of the gutsiest outdoor adventures ever (I would like to begin a discussion from people with any relevant knowledge about whether or not that is true). I had assumed Heather–trail name, Anish–was a great athlete, in the mode of Jennifer Pharr Davis who broke the Appalachian Trail speed record and was a college basketball player. But Mrs....

read more

The Growing Popularity of the Pacific Crest Trail

Posted by on August 16, 2013 in Appalachian Trail, Cheryl Strayed, Pacific Crest Trail, Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail | 0 comments

The Summer issue of the Pacific Crest Trail Communicator had some eye-opening statistics. In 1997 the Pacific Crest Trail Association (governing body of the PCT) issued 16 thru-hiking permits. This year, however, by April 15th it had issued 1,211 to thru-hikers and thru-riders (equestrians) for the 2013 hiking season. The trail could now fairly be said to be wildly popular. And there is no reason to think this trend won’t continue. No, the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail narrative) will never have the numbers that the Appalachian Trail has,...

read more

Twelve Tribes Community Is Hospitable to Appalachian Trail Hikers

Posted by on August 10, 2013 in Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail | 4 comments

First of all, let me say that I am biased. I am a former Appalachian Trail thru-hiker as well as author of a trail narrative; the trail community has become a big part of my adult life. We hikers constantly chatter about which hiker hostels are the best, friendliest, and cheapest, as well as the ones that treat us like ‘hiker trash’, etc. I’m happy to report that the Twelve Tribes religious community stands out as extraordinarily hiker-friendly. Who are they? Specifically, the Twelve Tribes  are a group of communities spread...

read more

Amazon Travel Books Recommends ‘Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail’

Posted by on August 9, 2013 in Amazon Recommends Skywalker book, Pacific Crest Trail, Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail | 0 comments

  Travel Books Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail Bill Walker Price: $4.95 Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian trail Bill Walker, Jerry Gramckow, Audra George Price: $4.95 The Trail Life: How I Loved it, Hated it, and Learned from it Julie Urbanski Price: $3.79...

read more

Annapurna Circuit in Nepal Is a Great Way to Explore Lesser Developed Country

Posted by on August 2, 2013 in Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail | 0 comments

“This book takes a good look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of travel in a lesser developed country,” wrote Peggy Beaman in an Amazon book review of ‘Getting High–The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal‘. Thank you, Peggy. No, I don’t claim to be Hemingway. Nor do I purport to be another Bill Bryson or Bruce Chatwin. However, I have found that long journeys on foot bring out the best not just in people, but their writing as well. Perhaps that is why travel writing is such a rich genre. A person gets to experience...

read more

Bill Walker (‘Skywalker’) Named ‘Outstanding Blue Ridge Athlete’ by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine

Posted by on August 1, 2013 in Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail | 0 comments

Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine article below on Bill Walker (‘Skywalker). http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/go-outside/meet-the-best-athletes-in-the-blue-ridge/   Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine is the premier outdoor magazine (distributed from Baltimore to Atlanta) in the eastern United States. Thus it was with surprise that I greeted the news that the magazine wanted to interview me. And I was outright amazed that the magazine named me an ‘outstanding Blue Ridge athlete’, along with biker, Chris Scott, and kayaker, Emily...

read more

Amazon Travel Department Recommends ‘Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail’

Posted by on August 1, 2013 in Amazon Recommends Skywalker book, Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail | 0 comments

Are you looking for something in our Travel Books department? If so, you might be interested in these items. Travel Books Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail Bill Walker Price: $4.95 Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian...

read more

Virginia Is the Best Kept Secret on the Appalachian Trail

Posted by on July 22, 2013 in Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail | 0 comments

We all know that Virginia is the longest of the 14 states on the Appalachian Trail, at more than 500 miles. And those of us in the hiking community have certainly heard of the ‘Virginia Blues’ that afflicts so many thru-hikers to the point of knocking them off the trail. In Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, I wrote, “The initial frisson of excitement has worn off by the time thru-hikers reach Virginia. This is when the whole thing begins to seem like a job.” All of the above is indeed valid....

read more

Amazon Travel Books Recommends ‘Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail’

Posted by on July 21, 2013 in Amazon Recommends Skywalker book, Appalachian Trail, Appalachian trail Books | 0 comments

Are you looking for something in our Travel Books department? If so, you might be interested in these items. Travel Books The Best Way: El Camino de Santiago Bill Walker Price: $4.95 12 Steps To A Lighter Pack Steven Lowe Price: $0.99 Camino de Santiago: To Walk Far, Carry Less Jean-Christie Ashmore, Amy Scott Price:...

read more