Customer Rating: Summary: Very Helpful Comment: I would think this is one of the must reads if you are thinking about thru hiking the AT. Customer Rating: Summary: Filled With Facts Comment: The book was filled with a lot of good information for someone looking to hike the Appalachain Trail.
I did have one problem with the book. I found it to be a slow read and I had trouble reading it for long periods of time. It reminded me a lot of my school text books. But if you can overcome this set back you will learn a lot from the book.
The most interesting fact I found was that it costs on average $1 / mile to hike the AT. Customer Rating: Summary: Summary of Hiking Issues Comment: This book, based on a number of surveys, provides a broad understanding of what hiking the AT is all about. It explores the motivations of thru-hikers along with answering lots of questions most of us have when planning to hike all or sections of the AT. Easy reading, well organized and lots of facts. Customer Rating: Summary: Great book for the aspiring A.T. thru hiker. Comment: If you only read one book before hiking the Appalachian Trail, this is the book. The book is very informative and really helping me prepare for my thru hike. Customer Rating: Summary: Terrific Statistical Information Comment: Roland Mueser has written a terrific book that contains the results of interviewing dozens of hikers. He chose to tackle the subjects of why thru-hike?, footwear, food, equipment, and much more. He also did some scientific testing of his own when it comes to fighting insects. Mueser did a 4-mile run in the woods with DEET and re-did the run without insect repellant so he could tally the bug bites and report his fingings.
Mueser has put together the results of over 100 surveys so that he could bring you some great information that pertains to the long distance hiker.
Blending sage advice with personal experiences and anecdotes, this unconventional book is an unusually thoughtful account of long-distance trekking on the Appalachian Trail. Mueser draws upon interviews and questionnaire data gathered from over 100 long distance hikers hoofing it through the Applachian Mountains.
