Three Hundred Zeroes Author and Skywalker See Eye to Eye
This morning I received the following response from Dennis Blanchard, author of Three Hundred Zeroes, about a blog I posted on my website. He makes some salient points. Appalachian Trail books are a cottage industry, probably because we mortal feel compelled-or perhaps cursed–to tell about our lifetime adventures. But the more you read these books, the more you realize how different each person’s experience is. Other than it being on the same piece of real estate and a very intense experience, almost everything else diverges. So while I’m obviously partial to my own narrative, Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, I recommend that potential thru-hikers, as well as section hikers, sample other narratives before heading out on the journeys of their lifetimes. And Dennis’ narrative, Three Hundred Zeroes, has its own character and definitely is on the list of books that will help you in your lifetime’s journey.
“Thanks for the mention of Three Hundred Zeroes Bill. I like the fact that you point out that people should read an assortment of books before venturing out. As I’ve pointed out many times in the past, we AT authors are not competing with each other, we all have very different tales to tell, and experiences. I’d argue that the books are the most important piece of gear you have BEFORE you go out on the trail.
I read yours several times, cover-to-cover before I ventured out on the AT for my thru-hike, and it was invaluable. I also read Bryson’s, as well as Leslie Mass’, “In Beauty May She Walk,” and Jeff Alt’s, “A Walk For Sunshine.” They were all very different and informative.
Keep up the good work Bill, you’re one of the “Good Guys.”
Hey, I like that last part, Dennis. And to state the obvious, you, as well as your wife, Jane, an author in her own right, are some of the ‘good guys’.
Bill Walker is the author of Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail. He is also the author of Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail, as well as The Best Way–El Camino de Santiago. Walker, who is nearly 7-feet tall, is currently working on a whimsical book on the subject of height.
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