America Can Build New Hiking Trails if the Appalachian Trail Becomes ‘Too Crowded’
“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 effect’ took place, in which the number of thru-hikers (and section hikers) ballooned. The...
read moreWatch ‘Skywalker’ Appalachian Trail Movie on www.skywalker-pct.com
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 about Bill Bryson’s book, A Walk in the Woods. The budget was a mere $3,500. For starters, it...
read moreFree Amazon Kindle Upload: Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail (Weekend Only)
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...
read moreCheryl Strayed’s Movie, ‘Wild’, Should Ratchet Up the Number of Female Hikers on Pacific Crest Trail
“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 fed like stuffed pigs, ex-hikers give seminars on subjects ranging from water sources in the desert,...
read moreHiking in Maine is the Ultimate for Appalachian Trail Hikers
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 of eye candy,” one hiker recently opined. The variety of terrain is staggering. The first...
read moreSouthbound Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike is More Difficult
“I would never do the Appalachian Trail any way but northbound,” I have told many people. “I just love the way the hike develops with a crescendo effect in the final two states of New Hampshire and Maine.” Well, I have now broken that pledge. A friend asked me to accompany her (only to have to cancel at the last minute!) for the first part of her southbound thru-hike. Like many southbounders, she was beginning in the north because of her school schedule. It is simply too late for the average hiker to go northbound...
read moreAmazon Sports and Outdoor Books Department Recommends ‘Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail’
Are you looking for something in our Sports & Outdoors books department? If so, you might be interested in these items. Sports & Outdoors 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:...
read moreRecord Crowds on Appalachian Trail–Go America
I had always said I would never hike the Appalachian Trail any way other than northbound. However here I am in Millinocket, Maine, poised to begin southbound tomorrow morning at 6:30. Incidentally, what a nice trail town here, where hikers all stay at the Appalachian Trail Inn and eat at the Appalachian Trail Restaurant. The shuttle driver last night reported that the number of southbound thru-hikers is expected to reach 400 people this year. And that is on top of a record northbound crowd, estimated at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in...
read moreAnnapurna Circuit in Nepal Offers the ‘Best Cracking Headache’
It was 7 o’ clock in the morning. I had been walking for over three hours and was exhausted. Okay, that’s par for the course for long-distance hiking. But now there were two new elements in the equation. I was short of breath. Not surprising considering I was at over 17,000 feet and still climbing. And secondly, I had a headache the likes of which hopefully few mortals experience. Altitude mountain sickness had set in. The lack of oxygen and dehydration cause humans to lose some of their faculties at elevations over 17,000 feet. In...
read moreSkywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail receives 200th Amazon Book Review
“I have become obsessed about reading the Appalachian Trail,” Jennifer Haig wrote in my 200th Amazon book review. Good for you, Jennifer! Honestly, there are few things worth getting obsessed about in life. But this storied national scenic trail running through fourteen states from Georgia to northern Maine may be one of them. What a success story it is, with 3,000,000 hikers per year, whether day hikers, section hikers, or thru-hikers. And I greatly appreciate the support my fellow hikers, as well as non-hikers, have given me as...
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