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My opinion of later is 'jaded'. I'm heading for Maine.
Content Overview
AWOL on the Appalachian Trail is a memoire about author David Miller’s 2003 thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail. In the book, Miller documents his some 2,172 miles hiking from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine; from training on a treadmill in the months leading up to his leave of absence from work, to the daily sights, sounds, and rigors of the trail.
Miller’s book outlines what makes a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) such an epic journey. He educates the reader on gear needed for the hike, the terrain and geography of different sections of the hike, the culture and community surrounding the AT, and much more.
Writing Style and Tone
Miller wrote the book in a tone of reflection and reminiscence on a positive time period of his life. Throughout the book, whether he was talking about blisters on his feet, seeing black bears on the trail through the Shenandoah, or being caught in the rain, I always sensed that Miller looked fondly back on the trials and tribulations of the trail.
Some chapters of the book do feel a bit monotonous, as Miller documents each day and night on the trail, exactly what he encountered, and the conversations he had. However, the pace of the book was somewhat comforting, a rhythm that in my mind reflects the pace an monotonies of the Appalachian Trial itself.
The book also contains some photos and maps of trail sections, easing the reader along and helping them to keep pace on Miller’s journey.
Audiobook note: I have also listed to the audiobook version of AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, and must say that the narrator Christopher Lane does a phenomenal job of reading the book. His tone and cadence is precisely what I pictured that of David Miller to be.
Conclusion
The end of AWOL on the Appalachian Trail had me feeling like I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail myself. It is an inspiring book, and what I consider to be a must-read for any hiker interested in the Appalachian Trail. New hikers can also glean a lot of education in the information Miller provides, from hiking etiquette and culture, to hiking vocabulary. Moreover, after reading it, they may just be inspired enough to hike the trail themselves.
Where to Purchase
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Price
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Buy
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Barnes & Noble
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$125.99
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VIEW
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Amazon
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$122.00
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VIEW
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Adam Thompson
Author and chief contributor.
AWOL on the Appalachian Trail: Book Review
Introduction
I cannot say that “hiking” has always been a love of mine. I hiked a lot growing up in West Virginia, but really didn’t know what the definition of what “hiking” was. For me, it was always just “walking in the woods” – finding local trails and seeing waterfalls or fantastic views. It never really occurred to me that people hike for a myriad of reasons, or that they could eventually come to a place in life where they yearn for nature, and hiking is the answer. It wasn’t until I had spent years working in a corporate office that I became interested in hiking, and “AWOL on the Appalachian Trail” was one of my best teachers.
The book’s author David Miller (a.k.a. trail name AWOL) wrote a note to himself before starting his thru-hike on the Appalachian trail in 2003. This resonated with me when I first read his book at age 33, finding myself at a similar trajectory in life :
“I am 41 years old, and I have worked since getting out of college as a computer programmer. I’m in decent shape for a person who’s been holed up in an office for so long….Nothing is wrong with my life. My family is outstanding. I have what most people would consider to be a decent job…Maybe doing it [the thru-hike] later in life would make more sense. But my father had bypass surgery and my mom is fighting cancer. My opinion of later is ‘jaded.’ I’m heading for Maine.”
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