This book is about Bill Bryson’s experience hiking the Appalachian Trail with his friend Katz. He starts by discussing how he moved to New Hampshire and found a trailhead to the Appalachian Trail. He begins researching the trail and sees stories about bears, snakes, and lethally deranged moose.
He discusses how the US National Park Service can’t decide on the trail distance. Some say 2,155 miles, and others say it is 2,147 miles. In that 2,155 or 2,147 miles (whatever you think), there are over three hundred and 150 peaks taller than 5,000 feet, the tallest being Clingman’s dome at just under 6,700 feet high. In addition, plenty of other smaller mountains are scattered along the way.
Bill gathered supplies for his trip and went to a camping supply store to buy gear. He realizes that the lighter it is, the more expensive it becomes. I know from personal experience that this is a very eye-opening experience.
In one story, he talks about how someone got a picture of some black bears trying to get a bag of food down from a tree. Bryson states they looked like four guys trying to figure out how to get a frisbee down from a tree. I hope I’m never close enough to get a picture like that.
Bryson talks about how, in his hiking experience, he felt compelled to do it. I enjoy hiking, though, at times, it may be a fine and pleasant misery.
In another experience on the trail, he talks about how they came across somebody who had a backpack with a pouch with a plastic window. Katz said it is for people who are so stupid and can’t figure out how to open it. That man got very offended. This is how you don’t make friends on the trail.
The book about his experiences on the trail was hilarious, and I recommend it to anyone, whether you are interested in hiking or not.
Walk in the Woods
