Many people think of journalists as annoying. Indeed many are. Heck, truth be told, that’s part of their job is to hold the high and mighty accountable. But every now and then a journalist writes an article that is flat-out cool. I ask you to check out Nicholas Kristof’s Sunday op-ed in the New York Times. Folks, it is boffo. He recounts his recent trek with his teenage daughter on the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Mexico to...

“My daughter is really depressed. We’re worried she might try to kill herself,” Jerry said. “Hey,” I answered slowly, “I really mean this. Long-distance hiking has this almost magical quality to boost people’s morale.” “Really.” “Sure,” I answered. “It’s strange. Your options are dramatically reduced out in the wilderness. Yet it somehow enlarges you.” I...

It’s hiking season, folks. What does that mean? Perhaps the motto of the Florida Appalachian Trail Club sums it up best. GOYASH (Get Off Your Ass, Start Hiking). Pretty good, huh. And I promise you one thing–you will never regret it. Especially this winter when you are frozen or iced in your house, if not your car. These are the good ol” days. Bill Walker is the author of the Skywalker hiking books, including...

“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...