Books on the AT

Sufler

Sufler

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Oct 15, 2005
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Any recommendations for good reads about the Appalachian Trail? Something to get someone interested enough in it to attempt trekking it. Maybe written by someone who's actually walked the full distance and the situations/stories encountered.

Thanks!

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You should check out AWOL on the Appalachian Trail by David Miller. I finished the book not long ago and it was a great read by a guy who did a thru-hike.
 
I really enjoyed A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. Humorous and informative book on his trek across the AT.

John
 
"Through Hiker's Eyes" Part I and II by Larry Alexander. Not a trail guide. It's a great entertaining read that takes you through the AT from start to finish.
Look up trailpeddler.com. It's also available on Amazon, I think.

Larry finished thru-hiking the PCT on 9/24, and hopefully will be writing a book about it. Some of the "characters" will be same, because some of the same group that gravitated together on the AT did the PCT with him.
 
street soldier said:
I really enjoyed A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. Humorous and informative book on his trek across the AT.

John
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Definitely one of the best books I've ever read !:thumbup:
 
Go read Appalachian Trials. It might not be an exciting thrilling read, but it's the best mental primer I've seen and psychology is a big part of the trip. It is also quite comedic.

A Walk in the Woods is entertaining but is ruined now that I actually have hiked it.
 
pitdog said:
Definitely one of the best books I've ever read !:thumbup:
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Glad you guys enjoyed it. I just finished it and to be honest it was a tough read for me. I very much enjoyed the antics between the two characters but I could do without the random drawn out rants about geology, or botany. Some may like it but it was a bit drawn out for me. It is defiantly a different perspective on the trail though.
 
As Far As The Eye Can See by David Brill. It is his reflections on through hiking the AT, not a day-to-day description. It will for sure make you want to do it.

A Walk in the Woods is quite humorous - but remember the author onl;y hiked part of it. He made no claim to have done all of it, and is quite honest about that. Still very humorous experiences and an easy reading style.
 
i know you said book but if someone needs convincing to hike it then they might not even read a book about a trail they currently don't care about? if you have netflix, there's a documentary (only 50 minutes long) you can show them titled "national geographic: the appalachian trail"...quick way to find out if they'll get hooked right away or not :) then move onto reading the book, if interest is piqued.
 
JV3 said:
i know you said book but if someone needs convincing to hike it then they might not even read a book about a trail they currently don't care about? if you have netflix, there's a documentary (only 50 minutes long) you can show them titled "national geographic: the appalachian trail"...quick way to find out if they'll get hooked right away or not :) then move onto reading the book, if interest is piqued.
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Thanks for the recommendation! We watched and liked it enough that we'll pursue some of the book titles mentioned in this thread!

Thanks again for the recommendation on the video.
 
Hilarious book. Very well written.
There are countless other books out there too. Also check out some of the trail registers that people have transcribed online from the journals on the shelters
 
Two of my favorite books on the subject are On the Beaten Path by Robert Alden Rubin and Where less the Path is Worn by M.J. Eberhart.

Both authors have done the entire thing, and then some! Im a thru hiker myself and know both of these guys. Great reads.
 
Definitely AWOL and Bill Bryson's book. Two differing perspectives and lots of info to start asking the hard questions and also realize that no matter how much you prepare, it is unlikely that you will be fully prepared.
 
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